Flooding in Pakistan: UK charities launch DEC appeal ‘to save lives’ as six million people are struggling | World News
The UK Disaster Emergencies Committee has issued an appeal to “save and save lives” as Pakistan deals with devastating floods.
More than 1,100 people have died and 33 million have been affected after monsoon rains and melting glaciers destroyed homes, infrastructure and crops.
The United Nations has called for $160m (£138m) to help alleviate an ‘unprecedented climate disaster’ – and now 15 UK charities have come together to try to raise money .
“Our priority right now is to help save and protect lives as the water continues to rise,” DECEMBER Chief executive officer Saleh Saeed.
“The scale of these floods has caused incredible levels of devastation – crops have been washed away and livestock killed across large swaths of the country, which means famine will follow. .”
He acknowledged that many Britons were struggling with the cost of living but said any donation, no matter how small, could help save lives.
“We urge people to give whatever they can with what we appreciate,” Mr. Saeed said.
This UN map shows the extent of damage to homes across Pakistan as of August 26
Satellite image revealed how large areas were submerged last month, and the DEC said a third of the country is estimated to be underwater.
Sindh province, one of the hardest hit, received 466% more rain than the 30-year average in the latest quarter.
Helicopters have rescued people from rooftops and dry land, and dropped food in hard-to-reach areas.
The situation could get worse, with PakistanThe disaster management agency said the major rivers Indus and Kabul were at “high to very high flood levels” and were likely to continue to rise.
Thousands of tents as well as food and medicine have arrived in the country – from China, Turkey and the UAE – but much more is needed given the scale of the disaster.
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Sky’s Saima Mohsin talks to flood victims
People cross a river on a cradle in Bahrain town
Of the tens of millions of people affected, about 6.4 million are in dire need of aid, according to the World Health Organization.
The head of Pakistan’s disaster agency Akhtar Nawaz said more than two million acres of arable land had been flooded.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif added: “The rice has been washed away. Fruits and vegetables are no more.”
International bodies have called for the easing of restrictions on food imports from neighboring Pakistan and arch-rival India.
The Pakistani minister has blame western countries for creating the disaster caused by climate change and now has the “responsibility” to help.
