The extremely heavy monsoon rains have caused a catastrophe in Pakistan. Millions of people are without food and without clean water. Even more millions have been adversely affected by the torrential rain and raging waters of the flood.
People are left with nothing. Families carry each other out of the deep waters as best they can, children on the shoulders of their parents, the elderly half carried and the young children doing the best they can to navigate a path behind their parents in the dirty water.
Many countries around the world have offered to send money to help but not nearly enough money has been made available for the food, water and medicines that most of us take for granted.
Authorities fear an outbreak of waterborne diseases at any time.
Governments are doing what they should to help the people of Pakistan survive the natural disaster which is bigger and worse than any other flood experienced.
So it’s up to people like you and me to make a difference and save some lives.
I want to share with you a note a friend from Pakistan wrote to me the first of the week. Zafar’s hometown is Karachi, Pakistan.
Hi Vicki.
Do you know about the heavy flooding in Pakistan? (Pakistan . . .) It is really vulnerable situation out here in our country especially in the northern part. Report said about 20% (That estimate has been raised to 30%Vicki) of the total land area has been covered with flood waters of the Indus River. I must plea for your help as you can generate some noise among your friends to donate either in cash or kinds. Will be grateful.
If you want you can send the funds directly through WESTERN UNION. We can give money to the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Army who are actually heading the relief and rescue efforts out here. They issue a receipt of the funds received from you as well. It is extremely fair and trustworthy way and will impact the live of the affectees.
Great! I believe this goodwill gesture will bring a lot to subside the miseries of the deprived people here.
Zafar Shahjahan
Here are some important web links to help you decide how and where you would like to donate your help to the Pakistani families.
Western Union Pakistan Relief Efforts. This link will take you to the Western Union page provided for online donations specifically for Pakistan flood victims. At the same link you will be able to located the Western Union office nearest to where you live if you don’t wish to make an online transaction. Western Union has partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). When you make a donation using Western Union 0% fee will be charged from August 12 to September 12.
The International Rescue Committee http://www.theirc.org/ As many as 20 million people have been affected by the intense monsoon rains this year which have resulted in the worst flood in our times.
Pakistan Navy http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/
Pakistan Army http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/
The Pakistan Navy and Army are in charge of the relief effort. The USA is more than tripling the number of helicopters to help fly people to safety.
Western Union Pakistan Relief Efforts. Here is the web address for Western Union’s Pakistan web page. You can use it by cutting and pasting it into your web browser.
http://www.westernunion.com/WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?method=load&countryCode=US&languageCode=en&pagename=promoPakistan&pid=alphaPakpromo
For more information and continuing coverage scroll through Pakistan Flood at Asnycnow Radio blog.
