IRISH AID:AID AGENCIES have appealed for donations towards relief efforts in northwest Pakistan after extensive flooding which has claimed more than 1,400 lives so far.
The Irish Red Cross said some €12.5 million is urgently required to provide emergency relief to families who have been affected by the flooding, the worst Pakistan has witnessed in decades.
Money raised by the appeal, which has been made by the Red Cross internationally, will help provide food, shelter, emergency health care, water and sanitation.
Declan O’Sullivan, acting secretary general of the Irish Red Cross, explained many communities had not yet been reached because flood waters had cut off roads.
“With further heavy rain, there is a real danger that the flooding will spread further south . . . Thousands of people are living in miserable conditions and providing clean water and sanitation is an absolute priority if we are to avert a public health disaster,” he said.
Irish aid agency Concern issued a worldwide appeal to raise €5 million to help victims of the flooding.
“The Irish public and the Government have always rallied to help victims of natural disasters and we are asking for the public’s urgent help for Pakistan,” said Concern’s regional director Bríd Kennedy. “This is a terrible catastrophe affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the world who are living in dire poverty.”
Trócaire, which has run aid projects in Pakistan for more than 20 years, has also launched an appeal for donations.
Cecil Dunne, Trócaire’s emergency officer in Pakistan, described as “really desperate” the predicament faced by survivors.
“Floodwaters have washed away people, homes, bridges, water systems and medical facilities. Survivors have been left with nothing; no home, no food and no livestock as more rain starts to fall,” he said.
Members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps are on standby to join relief efforts if required. The corps, which is run by the Irish Aid division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, was set up to respond to overseas crises. It is made up of volunteers experienced in logistics, engineering, health, education and information technology.