Devastating floods in Pakistan have affected 8.1 million people so far and the condition is getting worse by the day. Â The lip service media coverage coupled with ineffective government response is quickly turning this into a huge humanitarian crisis.
The families affected belong to the poorest population of the province and they have lost everything including their already meager sources of livelihood.
Many international aid organizations have launched their response and corresponding appeals (see below). Private donations to these organizations can help a great deal in alleviating the suffering.
Ignoring factors such as location, ethnicity, religion, inefficient government, political aspects and looking from purely a humanitarian perspective, this disaster deserves more help.
Scale of Disaster:
- 8.1 Million people affected 2.7 million children according to UNICEF.
- 1.8 million displaced, 2 million sick.
- 1.5 million home destroyed
- 40,900 villages destroyed
- 6.6 million acres under water
- 2.2 million acres of crop damaged (i.e. 72 per cent of crops)
- 1.4 million houses destroyed
- 625,000 people in relief camps
- 367 dead
- 637 injured
Source: PDMA-Sindh Sept 19th, 2011
The Need:
- The UN refugee agency ups its appeal for Pakistan to US $120 million
- the situation of flood-affected people is even worse than the displacement faced during last year’s flooding
- UN appeals for $357 million. The $357 million appeal is only to garner initial “life saving assistance to the most affected people” said the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan, Timo Pakkala.
Mainstream Media Reports:
- Huffington Post report
- MSNBC ReportÂ
- Washington Post ReportÂ
- The UN Refugee Agency ReportÂ
- United Nations Development Program
- BBC: Sept 29, 2011 storyÂ
- Reuters Story
- Washington Post Story