Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dear Friends in Diplomatic Missions, Foreign Offices, Embassies, Media & Donor Agencies,

As you know, the unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan have triggered a massive humanitarian crisis that have threatened the lives and well-being of millions of people in the floodwaters' path, particularly villagers and residents of (KACHA) riverine areas of Sindh, claiming over 850 lives and affecting nearly 8 million people. These floods are recorded as being the worst to ravage Sindh in a 100 years. Roads and farms are submerged in water, putting estimated relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction costs at more than 6 billion Rupees. Those entrapped and displaced are suffering acutely due to lack of boats, helicopters, ground transport, shelter, food and clean water. This is an hour we all must come together and show our wholehearted support for the flood survivors. It is critical that the immediate needs such as transport, food, clean water and medicine are provided to those affected. Its the human suffering that stares one in the face - collapsed houses, desperate faces, people running after relief materials, scores of families entrapped on roofs, huddled in temporary shelters and destruction of standing crops on lacks of acres of land. Most of the remote parts of Northern Sindh have been badly hit, dozens of towns including Thul, Ghauspur, Karampur, Tangwani have been inundated and damaged severely, more than a million helpless people are still encircled by water, hundreds of villagers including women and Children have drowned and disappeared, houses, domestic animals, vehicles, fish ponds, tube-wells and crops have been completely damaged.

In this catastrophic situation, 8 million flood affected Sindhis and 60 million people of Sindh appeal to the world community to extend aid for the flood victims of Sindh & Pakistan. For the last two weeks many areas of Sindh specially the Kandhkot-Kashmore, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Khairpur, Noshehro Feroz, Nawabshah, Dadu, Hala, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Thatta constantly under the devastation of floods. Around eight millions are affected by the worst ever floods in the history of Sindh which wreak havoc all across the country and erased hundreds of the villages while depriving millions of their homes, belongings, savings, beloved ones and lives forever.

The People of Sindh are in need of boats, helicopters, ground transportation including Rescue Trains and relief supports like food grains, tarpaulins, blankets and Clothings, medicare measures etc. after which a long term development process is required for their proper rehabilitation and security of life including aged women and children along with the domestic animals. Sources of safe drinking water and proper arrangement of hygienic material just to avoid a severe contamination of drinking water are needed to be taken care of. People of Pakistan also request to world community to extend their aid for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people . It should be our priority to rehabilitate all the victims of flood at its earliest and to serve this purpose we appeal to the world community, The UNO, The Friends of Pakistan, The World Bank, ADB, SAARC, Common Wealth, European Union, G-8, Arab League, OIC and International Relief Organizations and Donors including Red Cross, UNDP, USAID, AUSAID, OXFAM, SAP, ActionAid, CIDA, DFID, BMZ, JICA, SNPO, CRS, Lions Club, British Council, Rotary Club, UNICEF, GTZ, WFP, Save the Children Fund, Agha Khan Foundation and others to come forward to establish funds and relief camps for the relief of flood affected peace loving people of Pakistan.

Concerned organizations and individuals have provided relief at different BANDS through medical care and distributions of food and primary health services. The common illnesses our medical teams are treating include malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, flue, skin infections and scabies. There are identified twelve (12) urgent needs of flood affected families that will have to be addressed by the Government and International Donors over the longer term: 1-Transportation, 2-Shelter, 3-Food, 4-Health and Nutrition, 5-Security, 6-Protection of Livestock and belongings, 7- Regaining incomes, 8-Restoration of Food Production Ability, 9-Eduaction of Children, 10-Accountablity of Funds and Donations, 11-Capacity Enhancement, Repair & Maintenance of three Barrages & all Canals, 12-Permenment Rehabilitation of Flood Affected People.

Through this appeal the People of Pakistan are sending an SOS message and fact sheet of the flood victims to the Conscience of the World. We expect your cordial handling of the situation, Please extend your co-operation to affected people, to Govt of Pakistan, Pakistan based NGOs & Political Organizations, to save the victims of Pakistan temporarily and for a long-term involvement. The need is dire and we all must act with the greatest possible urgency to rush aid and relief to those affected.
Course type: International news
Start date: 01 Nov 2010
End date: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Language: English
Partners: Vietnam Television (VTV)
Deadline: 18 Oct 2010
Apply
The core activity concerns the challenges and techniques involved in covering international-scale crises and disasters, using Reuters and other world news organisations as a model. We will concentrate on natural disasters and humanitarian crises of all sorts, and the special problems that can arise in covering them. Through briefings and practical writing exercises against deadlines, the course will help journalists improve their skills and recognise problem areas, within an interactive group environment. The Thomson Reuters Foundation AlertNet service (www.alertnet.org) will provide a central resource during the course.

Eligibility

Open to journalists from South-East Asia currently working full- time for Asian media organisations . Applicants must also be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country., have at least two years' professional experience and have a good level in spoken and written English.

Funding

Thomson Reuters Foundation offers bursaries for journalists from the developing world/countries in political transition working for organisations with no resources for training. Bursaries would include economy class travel expenses and budget accommodation (for journalists based outside Vietnam). This arrangement is subject to variation.

Submissions

  • A biography of up to 250 words outlining your career.
  • Two recent examples of your published work, preferably relevant to the course for which you are applying, with a brief summary in English (if necessary). TV/Radio journalists can send in their scripts and a brief summary.
  • A statement of between 250 and 500 words describing any factors affecting your work as a journalist. Explain how you hope to benefit from the course for which you are applying.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Visit to Al-Khidmat Welfare Society

Today I visited Al-Khidmat Welfare Society(http://www.alkhidmat.org.pk), I met with many officials and they gave me very good response. They assure me that if I identify any area they will establish camp. For this purpose I have to give them all details that where people have stayed in Karachi who are flood victims. Al-Khidmat Welfare Society will not help only those who are in Karachi but also to all Locations where Flood affected people have gone.

Asif Memon
General Secretary
Supertec Foundation
+923322606905
gs@supertec.com