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.

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