Adil Najam
This post updates our earlier list of good ways to help flood victims in Pakistan.
The good news is that there are now many avenues through which support can be provided to them. We have listed and given links to just a few here but there are many many more. More importantly, the range of avenues and ways in whihc you can help has also expanded. These range from UN agencies (such as UNHCR or WFP) to international relief organizations (such as Doctors Without Borders or Save the Children) to Pakistani groups such as (Edhi Trust or Behbud) to more localized organizations (such as Karachi Relief Trust or SRSP) to knowledge efforts (such as PakRelief crowd-mapping) to expatriate Pakistani efforts (such as Human Development Foundation or Relief4Paksiatan) to individual efforts such as those TeethMaestro and OffRoad Club of Paksitan and, indeed, by thousands of families and individuals all over the country who are just rising to collect money and goods and get it to those in need.
Once again, we urge you to give. Give to who ever you think will do the best job. But give. No matter how much you give or to whom. Do please give. Because the need is great. I tried to make this case to American audiences in a recent NPR interview (listen to audio here), and the case to Pakistanis is the same, but even more urgent.
Mouj baRhay, ya aandhi aaye, diya jalaye rakhna hai
Ghar ki khatir sou dukh jhailain, ghar tou aakhir appna hai
On behalf of all of our readers, we have been sending donations from ATP to Edhi Foundation and we intend to keep adding to this whatever we can. We realize this is a small amount and insignificant in light of the challenges, but we mention it here (a) because it comes from our Ad revenues and therefore from you, and (b) because we wish to reinforce the point that everyone should do whatever little they can, because every little bit counts. Since the question has been repeated, let me repeat our response to those kind readers and past donors who have written asking that we should do a collection at ATP as be have done in the past (for cyclone victims, for earthquake victims, for IDPs, etc.). However, given how many other good avenues now exist we think it is better to just urge you to give wherever you can and whatever you can.
If you are sending goods in kind, please review our last post on the subject which has a good list of the things most needed. Also, please do remember that as the water recedes the needs will actually increase, not decrease. In particular the incidence of disease will rise and the need for hygiene as well as medicine will rise with it. So, please, do whatever you can. For all our sakes!
See http://www.pakistani.org/floodrelief/ for a registry of flood relief efforts and initiatives. The site also shows users which organizations their friends are recommending or donating to.
A very interesting way of coordinating efforts for relief work. It has a clickable maps with all the current requirements
http://www.pakreport.org/ushahidi/
Dear all,
The Islamabad Jeep Club is also conducting relief operations in Punjab and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. We are looking for volunteers from Islamabad/Rawalpindi to support our distribution efforts.
http://ijc.com.pk/relief/
Americans (Holbrook) think that their aid will make Pakistanis fall in love with them. Can someone tell them that humanitarian aid is not Valentine gift. Read more at: http://fmeducation.blogspot.com/2010/08/humanitarian-aid-is-not-valentine-gift.html
We have consolidated a list and are constantly updating it. For details on how to donate via
SMS, watching YouTube videos, purchasing charity songs, on-line campaigns, and individuals and organisations working for Pakistan Flood Relief, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/36seelg
Dr Adil – Can you please start a post to acknowledge all the fundraising activities that are taking place across North America (Ideally across the globe). Also, we should acknowledge all the major companies who have announced donations and/or donation matching despite having a very small number of employees of Paksitani origin.
http://www.sarelief.com/2010/08/svfundraiser/
Thanks!
You guys are doing a great service by highlighting this. Please keep up the good work.
It is all good to contribute for flood rescue. But, we have to understand and rate the organizations asking for funds on their humanitarian track record, before opening our wallets.
Rumors of overwhelming corruption have been swirling the past few weeks. As have been evidence that the Pakistani minorities have been left to the vultures to fend for themselves. Even worse, been robbed and maimed.
First, the news story on the plght of the Ahmadis in the flood. And, now the story on Hindus being looted (link below).
http://tribune.com.pk/story/41664/%e2%80%98they-don%e2%80%99t-really-care-about-us%e2%80%99/