The Pakistani community in Bahrain is rallying together to co-ordinate relief efforts for victims of the worst humanitarian disaster the South Asian country has seen in the last decade.
More than 30 million people across Pakistan have been affected by monsoon floods over the last three weeks, with more than 1,000 confirmed dead and 184,000 relocated to relief camps.
In Bahrain, the Pakistan Embassy has issued an urgent appeal to the more than 100,000 Pakistani nationals in the kingdom, community and professional organisations, as well as other friends of Pakistan, calling for donations that can help the displaced and affected individuals and families.
“This year, Pakistan has received 170 times the average rainfall during the monsoon season and these non-stop rains escalated the situation, aggravated further by the impact of climate change,” Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Ayub told the GDN yesterday.
“Houses, crops, livestock, and communication infrastructure have been severely damaged.
“Sadly, the number of casualties and injuries is expected to increase.
“The federal and provincial governments have been carrying out rescue and relief operations tirelessly with support from the armed forces and other departments.
“However, given the unprecedented scale of the calamity, more resources are needed to urgently help flood victims.”
The provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have been hit the hardest.
Pakistan’s government has announced a state of emergency and will be launching a UN flash appeal on Tuesday in Islamabad, Pakistan and Geneva, Switzerland to co-ordinate international relief efforts.
Funds raised by the campaign will be directed towards rescue, relief and rehabilitation of victims, according to Mr Ayub.
Those interested in helping can send donations to any bank in Pakistan after mentioning the name of the fund – Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2022.
The donations will reach the fund account with the State Bank of Pakistan through banks.
Donations can also be made by wire transfer and money transfer operators. The funds by banks are settled with the State Bank of Pakistan daily.
Embassy chancery head Hasnain Youssef has been designated as the key liaison for the flood relief matters at the embassy.
He can be contacted for any queries/help by calling 17243069, 17365309 or 35489886.
“The people of Pakistan and especially overseas Pakistanis have always shown exemplary resilience, brotherhood, compassion, generosity and commitment in the wake of such natural disasters,” Mr Ayub added.
“Pakistan is amongst the top 10 disaster-prone countries due to climate change and the recent flash floods are another manifestation of this fact.
“It is important that the international community shows solidarity with Pakistan and reinforces its national efforts in combating the impact of such natural disasters.”
According to the diplomat, currently no community organisations are authorised to raise funds for the efforts.
Meanwhile, Organisation of the Islamic Co-operation (OIC) secretary general Hissein Brahim Taha yesterday expressed deep sorrow over the casualties, massive destruction of property and loss of life resulting from the floods in Pakistan.
In a statement, he said: “The secretary general offers sincere condolences to the government and people of Pakistan, expresses sympathies to the victims of the floods, and appeals to all member-states, Islamic humanitarian organisations and the international community at large for emergency assistance to mitigate the suffering of the affected populations.”
Türkiye said it was preparing to send an aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Pakistan.
The Foreign Ministry said: “We are deeply saddened that the severe flood disasters, which are ongoing and intensified in the last few days in Pakistan, claimed the lives of many Pakistani brothers and sisters, and caused extensive damage.
“We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, convey our condolences to the friendly and brotherly government and people of Pakistan, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.
“Türkiye has started preparations to extend the necessary relief to the Pakistani brothers and sisters who have been affected by the flood disasters and has planned to send a Turkish aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Pakistan,” the ministry added.
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