Support Needed as Devastation Increases
Aid and assistance is becoming more urgent as communities continue to suffer from the worst flooding in Pakistan’s history. Without shelter, clean water or enough food, they face a serious risk of disease and an uncertain future, as floodwaters continue to erase homes and livelihoods.
As the disaster escalates, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has appealed for assistance.
“Millions of people have suffered and still there is more rain and further losses are feared. I appeal to the world to help us. We are doing what we can. The government has done everything possible but it is beyond our capacity – we are facing an extremely difficult situation.”
The United Nations (UN) has reported 14 million people seriously affected by the disaster, with the official death toll already reaching 1,600. The floods are continuing to sweep south resulting in mass evacuations. An estimated 6 million people are in need of food, and 4 million people are without shelter.
ACC International Relief field workers are based in the region of Punjab; one of the worst affected areas of the nation. Some areas nearby are submerged under two meters of water and thousands of villages have been ordered to evacuate as flood waters keep rising.
Displaced families are in desperate need of support and shelter. The death toll is expected to increase with the threat of further flooding, the spread of disease, lack of food and clean drinking water along with other complications that follow a large scale natural disaster.
John and Anne Iqbal, originally from Queensland, have been working in Pakistan since 1998. As part of ACC International Relief they have facilitated aid and community development for many years, and managed relief teams during the 2005 earthquake, delivering food and other support to victims. They are now ready to scale up assistance for the current floods, providing drinking water and food parcels with flour, rice, cooking oil, lentils and other items.
John and Anne have access to local teams within the Pakistan Assemblies of God network. These teams will be activated to purchase the necessary food items and transport them to the areas most in need throughout the Punjab and Sindh provinces. In addition to delivering material goods, the teams will provide counselling and emotional support to the flood victims, many of whom are suffering from significant trauma.
ACC International Relief is ready to receive donations now. Support will enable efficient and effective delivery of food, clean drinking water and other necessities to Pakistan’s flood victims.
All donations received for the flood victims will be tax deductible and can be sent to the ACC International Relief operation centre in Melbourne.
