Adil Najam
One question that many people have been asking is ‘What is the best way to help those – now an estimated over 2.5 million Pakistanis – who have been affected by the recent torrential rains and floods in Pakistan?’
The most honest answer, I think, is that right now so much help and assistance is needed by so many that no matter how you help, and through whom, it will be a good thing and it will make the lives of at least some at least a little more bearable.
On behalf of all of our readers, we had earlier send a first donation from ATP to Edhi Foundation and now are sending an additional donation, bringing the total to US$5,000. 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.
A few readers and past donors have written to us 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. More that that, we write today to ask you to please share with other readers what you think are good mechanisms to give through, good organizations to give to, and good ways to help the flood victims in Pakistan. We know that a number of our readers – Pakistanis and non-Pakistanis – will find this information very very useful, and we urge you to please help us catalog it so that it can help others, and through them help the flood victims.
According a list issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NMDA), the key items required by flood affectees include (these can be sent to nearest PAF bases where arrangements have been made to get these to those in need):
- Dried milk for children and families
- High nutrition biscuits
- Dates
- Food packets (tea, sugar, milk powder, vegetable oil, pulses, spices)
- Mineral water
- Water coolers
- Cooking utensils
- Footware for children
- Mosquito nets
- Blankets
- Bedspreads
- Floor matresses
- Soap
- Hand towels
- Tooth paste
- Female sanitary pads
- Diapers
- Washing power and soap
- ORS
- Mosquito repellents
- Prickly heat powder
- Children anti-rash creams
- Water purification tablets
- Candles and match boxes
- Flashlights
The NMDA has also issued a list of assistance required from donors includes:
- Boats
- Tents
- Generators
- Water filtration plats
- Dewatering pumps
- Blankets
- Medicines
- Medical equipment
- Hygiene kits
- Non-perishable food items.
As you think of this, my own take would be that it is important to find ways to support the immediate relief needs as well as the longer-range rehabilitation needs, including those related to lost livelihoods and disease.
At the most immediate level there are those who have lost their loved ones who need solace as well as support. There are those who have lost their homes who need shelter and sustenance. There are those who have (or will) loose their livelihoods who will need alternatives and options. The needs of the first two are most immediate and clearly should be a priority today. But the pain of the third group is going to be also profound and will linger over not just months but years. The number in the third group is also likely to be the largest and their needs are least likely to be served by conventional ‘relief’ efforts.
I say this not at all to distract from the pressing immediate needs of relief today and right now, but only to highlight that the challenges this water brings upon us are immediate, but also longer-range. Very large number of people will suffer long after the waters have receded. Especially as the loss to agriculture and crops and through disease and displacement begins to take its toll. If we are to ever respond to this challenge then we need to respond both to the immediate needs and the longer-range ones.
Luckily Pakistani as well as international relief agencies have already begun mobilizing in response. There are many lists and emails already being developed of good places to donate through and ways in which we can all help. As we have been doing, we urge you to help in whatever way you can, through whatever means you have, and via whatever organizations you trust. Give to whoever you think most highly of. But please do give.
Note: ATP itself has given to the Edhi Foundation, as we have before, because we believe our readers trust and respect it widely. There are, however, many other Pakistani as well as international organizations that are also going good – links to some of whom are provided in the pictures above. However, we do not endorse any particular organization and urge everyone to do whatever they can, through whoever they trust most.
My dear friends,
With all due respect of all of you, Mai sirf etna kehna chahon gaa, k qoum ka jo jazba 2005 mai tha wu abh kahi bhi nazer nahi araha hai, main ny 2005 earthquack mai bhi apni private team k sath 4-5 month kaam kia tha aur abh 1st August sy apne gher karachi sy nikla howa hon, ALLAH ny mujhe jo toufeeq aur hidayat ata farmai mai ussi asbab ko le kar chal para kuch mukhlis doston ny sath dia aur aaj he noushehra sy wapis aya hon. Halat yeah hain k yahan logon k pass peene ko pani tak nahi, hazaron ladies aur bachon k pass kapre tak nahi, NGO’s aur govt kaha hai ye tu ALLAH he janta hai lekin enn selab k mutasireen k liye fori tour par agr kuch na kia gaya tu ek aur bari tabahi humara muqadar hogi, Zaroorat ess amr ke hai k sari Pakistani qoum jazba e emani sy munawaer ho kar, ALLAH ke zaat par bharosa kar k jo kuch bhi kar sakti hai kare, Hum tu buhat kam loog hain, yahan volunteer tak nahi, Doctors tak nahi. enn bachon ke dekh rekh karne wala koi nahi kam uz kam first aid aur ebtidai imdad he koi dy dai lekin yahan kahin bhi kuch bhi nahi, pore noushehra main mujhe koi NGO, International organization nazer nahi aye, na he koi govt officials haan agr koi mila tu world food wale jo sirf takhmeena laga rahe thai k kitna nukhsan howa aur kitne log zinda reh gai hain aur kitne marne wale hain.
Main apne dono hath jour kar apne Pakistani bhaiun sy ALLAH k naam par enn khawateen, bachon, buzurgon k liye bheek mangta hon k khudara aap logon sy jo ban parta hain karain, ye trust wala mamla ALLAH pak par chour dain, buss apne eman aur ALLAH par bharosa rakh kar jiss k zarye bhi koi bhi maddad karna chahte hain karain, ALLAH pak ussi main khair o barkat farmain gai.
Mujhe yaqeen hai k mere dost, bhai aur behne meri ess appeal par labaik kahain gai aur khud bhi yahan tashreef lain gai aur apne doston ko bhi yahan k logon k liye kaam karne ke dawat dain gai.
Agr koi bhai ya behen mere group ko join karna chahta hai tu hum uss ko khush amdeed kahain gai, aap ka talukh zindagi k kisi bhi shobe sy ho agr aap as volunteer humare sath enn mutasira areas main kaam karna chahain tu contact karain,
+92 343 535 7247
+92 313 279 8085
+92 333 342 6031
ya email karain
mansoorahmed.aaj@gmail.com
faryal.zehra@gmail.com
ya hum ko visit karain:
http://ashiyanacamp.blogspot.com
ya hum sy milain
Relief camp, Madeen, Noushehra. Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.
collection camp, Mari Road, Rawalpindi. Punjab.
collection camp, Anarkali, Lahore. Punjab.
mai ya meri team aap sy har giz ye nahi keh rahi k aap humari maddad karain aap ko jo behter lage ussi k zarye yahan k logon ke maddad karain aur ALLAH ke zaat par bharosa rakh kar karain, Baqi enn jinnati logon, siyasat dano ya bari machliun sy agr kuch bacha tu mutasrin tak puhanch he jai gaa.
Jazakum ALLAH Khairan Khatreen Abadan.
With the name of ALLAH Almighty
Mere azeez doston,
Assalam O Alikum.
Apne pichle pegham main aap sy kuch arz kari thi, mujhe nahi elm k aap log kitna active howe hain ya nahi, lekin main ny arz kia tha k apne aglai pegham main aap sy arz karon gaa k yahan kin cheezon ke buhat sakhta aur fori zaroorat hai. Aur yehi arz le kar main aap ke khidmat mai hazir howa hon.
Most Urgent Requirement in Flood effected areas:
* Mineral Water – Fresh Drinking water “Unlimited” ( First High priority).
* Medicines for Scabies, Dieria, Motions, Vomiting, Fever, Multivitamins etc “Unlimited”. (Second High priority).
* Anti Germ, Mosquito, fly spray / liquid / Lime stone& Soap / liquid. Unlimited. (Third High priority)
* Clothes “Especially for women, children’s – all ages”. “Unlimited.” (Fourth High priority).
* Raw food stuff “Rice, Beans, Flour, Sugar, Tea, Bread, Rusk etc” Unlimited. (Fifth High priority).
Mere doston, ye buhat thodi chezain hain jo hum apne gharon sy, ya apne hathon sy khareed kar kisi bhi organization ya NGO ko de sakte hain, ya fir apne apne cities k COD, Army garrisons main ja kar jama kara sakte hain jahan sy ye ashya jitna jaldi mumkin howa Khyber Pakhtoon Khwah k selab zadgan tak puhanchai jaa sakti hain.
Mai aap subh he doton sy ALLAH k naam par yahan k seelab zadgan k liye bheek mangta hon k oper bayan kari gai ashya main sy aap loog jitna ziada jama kar sakte hain karain aur jitna jaldi mumkin ho yahan k logon tak puhanchain.
Jazakuk ALLAHU Khairan Khatreen Abadan.
Aap ka bhai.
Mansoor Ahmed
Ps. Ager aap humare zariye seelab zadgan ke koi maddad karma chahte hain tu neeche diye gai numbers par contact karain.
+92 343 535 7247
+92 313 297 8085
+92 333 342 6031
I request all the readers not to blame Mother Nature for this tragedy. It was caused by insensitive leadership and neglected infrastructure. Read more at: http://fmeducation.blogspot.com/2010/08/dont-blame -nature-neglected.html
For those who can only afford small amounts and live in the US, the Text option in your wall is a very good one. I just did that, very convenient and easy.
I also think that Edhi Foundation needs a better way of collecting donations over internet. Maybe someone here can help the get a system that allows easy donations over internet with credit cards?