An aerial image taken on Thursday shows flooded residential areas in Dera Allah Yar town of Jaffarabad district, Pakistan
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)An emergency appeal has been launched to help the people of Pakistan after “unprecedented” flooding left one-third of the country underwater.
More than 1,100 people have been killed and about six million are estimated to be in desperate need of humanitarian aid - though one charity leader warns the disaster is “far worse than the figures that we’re seeing right now”.
UK charities have now launched a fundraising appeal, aiming to provide shelter, water, food and medical supplies to “millions across Pakistan who are in urgent and immediate need of help to survive”.
The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), made up of 15 leading UK aid charities, launched the appeal on Thursday, urging the British public to dig deep in spite of the cost-of-living crisis.
Chief executive Saleh Saeed said: “We appreciate it is a difficult time for us all here in the UK. Whatever you can give to support will go a long way. And if you can’t please urge your friends, your family and your colleagues to support the appeal.”
One in seven Pakistanis are thought to have been affected by the flooding, which has submerged an area the size of the UK.
Early estimates put the damage from the unprecedented flooding at more than $10bn with monsoon rains washing away roads, crops, infrastructure and bridges.
Roads and rail links across the country have been destroyed, which continues to be a challenge for aid workers, and health facilities remain under water.
Jennifer Ankrom-Khan, country director for Action Against Hunger Pakistan, says the flooding is worse than that seen in the country in 2010, when it is estimated almost 2,000 people died and 1.89 million homes were destroyed, despite the fact Pakistan was better prepared this year.
She said: “Let us not forget that the rivers are still flowing and, particularly in Sindh [a province in south east Pakistan], we have the majority of the province under water, and any look at any imagery of maps you will see just miles and miles of submerged land and people on the few banks which is still above the water.”
Some forecasters are predicting that heavy rains in Pakistan could continue into December, which Ms Ankrom-Khan said would be “highly unusual”.
Waseem Ahmad, chief executive of Islamic Relief Worldwide, who is currently working on the relief effort, said: “This is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan, and in the 32 years of my experience as a humanitarian worker I never saw such destruction caused by flood.”
Through this vitally important appeal, @decappeal will be supporting people across Pakistan who have been impacted by this devastating climate disaster. Thank you for your generosity!
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 1, 2022
The UK Government has pledged to aid-match every pound donated by the British public to the DEC appeal up to the sum of £5 million.
During a press conference on Thursday, Mr Saeed added: “We hope to reach millions across Pakistan who are in urgent and immediate need of help to survive.
“The immediate focus is of course to provide temporary shelter, provide blankets to people who’ve lost their homes, clean water and sanitation in order to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, and, critically, food and medical assistance.
“The scale of these floods has caused a shocking level of disruption. Crops have been swept away and livestock killed across huge swathes of the country, which inevitably means hunger will follow. Time is critical, with conditions expected to get worse as the rains continue.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have tweeted their support for the fundraising efforts, and thanked donors for their generosity.
Details of how to donate can be found on the DEC website.
