Nation's floods of tears

The Ambassador of Pakistan to Bahrain, Ikramullah Mehsud today made a heartfelt plea to the island's big-hearted residents to rally around as his nation struggles to cope with devastating floods that have wrecked havoc in parts of the country.

Torrential rains have ravaged Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and concern mounted further as floods swept south into the Sindh province.

Speaking exclusively to GulfWeekly, Mr Mehsud said: "The disaster is unprecedented and the government is unable to cope with the situation.

"We have received instructions from the Pakistan government to help in the relief efforts and we are contacting various clubs like the Pakistani Women Association (PWA), Al Sakafa, Pakistan Club and local agencies to rally support.

"There is a small Pakistani community on the island compared to the rest of the Gulf countries but they have always risen up to help when called upon and I'm highly impressed with their collective efforts.

"While fundraising for the IDPs - Internally Displaced Pakistanis who fled their homes in the wake of military operation against the Taliban - last year we collected close to BD50,000 in a single fundraising event and I'm confident that the Pakistani community will again generously help their fellow countrymen in their hour of need."

Rains have continued to lash the flood-hit areas in Pakistan and have hampered relief efforts further deepening the crisis that has killed more than 1,600 people and affected 15million.

The disaster is in its second week and the floods, reported to be the worst in 80 years, have left people searching for higher ground and without access to clean drinking water, food, medicines and proper sanitation.

With roads, bridges and railway tracks washed away, and deadly landslides increasing the isolation of many of the worst-hit areas, aid workers are finding it extremely difficult to deliver relief. The UN has said that Pakistan will need billions of dollars in aid to recover as floods have also ruined crops vital to the economy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the flood victims are at high risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. The Pakistan Embassy has published a list of emergency relief items that are in urgent need for the flood victims. It includes medicines such anti-typhoid, anti-cholera, anti-malaria, anti-tetanus, anti-diarrhoea drugs and anti-snake venom. Other items include ORS, mosquito repellents, prickly heat powder, anti-rash creams, water purification tablets and units. Dried milk, dates, food packets, tea, milk powder, vegetable oil, blankets, mosquito nets, bed sheets and floor mattresses are also required.

Mohammad Saleem, first secretary at the Pakistan Embassy in Bahrain, added: "We are holding a disaster relief event on August 20 at the embassy and are also accepting emergency relief items which we will send to Pakistan. The magnitude of this disaster is so big that we will have to continue relief efforts for many months to come."

HOW YOU CAN HELP

RELIEF aid should not be used items; food items should be 'halal' only and medicines should have a sufficient expiry date.

The Pakistan Embassy is in the process of setting up a local account at Habib Bank of Pakistan but those who would like to send donations in US dollars immediately can do so using this information:

Account beneficiary: National Disaster Management

Account No: 9901526

Branch Code: 0341

Branch Name: National Bank of Pakistan, Main Branch, Islamabad, Pakistan

Swift Code: NBPAKKA021

For more information go to www. ndma.gov.pk, or contact the Pakistan Embassy on 17244113.