Tuesday 03 August 2010
€12.5 million is urgently needed to provide emergency relief to 25,000 families (125,000 people) in Pakistan who have been affected by severe flooding.
Red Cross teams are on the ground in the affected area working with the local community to save lives and provide food, water and shelter. They are treating flood victims for injuries, skin infections and respiratory problems as well as helping those who have been displaced.
The Irish Red Cross is asking for your help now so that the Red Cross Movement can get essential life saving items to the people of Pakistan as soon as possible. The organisation has launched its Pakistan Emergency Floods Appeal and is calling on members of the Irish public to donate today.
Money raised by this appeal will help provide food, shelter, emergency health care, and water and sanitation to the people of Pakistan.
The severe flooding in the north-western provinces of the country, caused by torrential monsoon rains, is the worst ever experienced in the country.
Currently the death toll stands at over 1,000 people, while 2.5 million have been directly affected, many of whom have lost their homes, livelihoods and possessions.
Declan O'Sullivan, Acting Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, explained that many communities have not yet been reached due to rising flood waters which have cut off road networks. With further rain forecast for the coming days, urgent humanitarian action is needed.
"The next week is critical. With further heavy rain, there is a real danger that the flooding will spread further south into Sindh province. Thousands of people are living in miserable conditions and providing clean water and sanitation is an absolute priority if we are to avert a public health disaster," he said.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an appeal for €12.5 million to help the people of Pakistan, not only in the immediate aftermath of the flooding, but to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods once this disaster has abated. In order to achieve this, donations, no matter how small, are needed now.
Donations to the Pakistan Emergency Floods Appeal are being accepted online here or by calling 1850 50 70 70.
Cheque and postal orders should be marked for the relevant appeal and made payable to:
Irish Red Cross
16, Merrion Square,
Dublin 2