It is over 20 million
people affected by the flood now:
The flood is still
on dangerous levels in several parts of Pakistan. The numbers of people
effected by the flood have crossed 20 million. More torrential rains are
forecast by the weather department. This is been considered one of the
most devastating flood in world history. The UN has once again appealed
for donations for Pakistan. But there has been a very slow response
internationally to help Pakistan in this period of great devastation.
After
destroying most of Khaiber Pukhtoon khawa and Southern Punjab, the water
has now washed down the Indus River Valley, causing a deluge in Sindh.
The water has been powered by unusually fierce monsoon rains that began
in country’s northern areas some three weeks ago.
Roads, bridges and other infrastructure have given way, overwhelming the
government's ability to cope. At this point an estimated 1,600 have been
killed with another 5 million left homeless.
The
Labour Relief Campaign (LRC), launched in October 2005 after an
earthquake killed nearly 100,000, has put up relief camps in several
parts of Pakistan. The LRC springs into action whenever there is an
emergency situation. Member organizations include Progressive Youth
Front, Women Workers Help Line, Labour Education Foundation, National
Trade Union Federation, CADTM Pakistan, Labour Party Pakistan, Pakistan
For Palestine and Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee. Currently the Lahore
camp at Regal Chouck is raising thousands of rupees every day in aid.
Here is report of a union council in Khaiber Pukhtoon Khawa province by
a team of four LRC members led by Farooq Ahmad, member of the federal
executive committee, Labour Party Pakistan:
On 29
July Pir Sabaq, a Union Council of Nowshehra district, with a population
of more than 34,000, is completely destroyed by the recent flood waters.
A tent city of more than 1,000 tents has been established but most of
the people are still forced to live in homes partially destroyed by the
flood. This can lead to a major building collapsing any time, resulting
in the further loss of lives.
In
addition to losing their homes most people found their household items
have been swept away. They have lost their cattle and goats as well.
People without anything to eat, drink or wear.
Pir
Sabaq is mainly a town of working-class people who work in marble or
stone-crushing factories, or in the construction sector or agriculture
sectors. When a LRC team visited yesterday, local people told about how
water more than 14 feet high reached the town’s roof tops. Since the
flood came around 4 a.m., while people were sleeping in the comfort of
their homes, there was no chance to save anything but their lives.
The
owners of small tourist boats did their best to help save lives of
common people.
By
contrast, when army helicopters arrived at the scene, they began
evacuating the families of military men and residents of the big houses.
People immediately saw the way the army discriminated about who they
aided. People told the LRC team that many stranded on the roof tops of
their houses waved their hands in the air when they saw the army
helicopters coming, but it was of no use.
People
have also blamed the government for failing to inform them on time about
the danger of the flood. Some also charged that water was allowed to
flow from the Warsik dam in order to save the nearby military camps.
The
LRC team saw the house of Pervaiz Lala, general secretary of LPP in Pir
Sabaq. It, like the majority, was completely destroyed; he and his
family is now homeless. He told them the people did not eat for almost
three days after the flood. Not a single governmental official has
visited the area so far. The information minister of KP province, Mian
Iftikhar Hussain, stated in clear terms that the provincial government
cannot do anything to help people in this disaster. however two days
before an NGO started providing some food.
There
is still water all over Pir Sabaq. A bad smell is everywhere and no
clean drinking water is available. The children are suffering from
diarrhea and skin rashes. The local government dispensary, the only
medical facility for the townspeople, has been totally destroyed. In
this environment people are haunted by the possibility of diseases being
spread.
People now are in need of: food items like cooking oil,
wheat flour, milk, sugar, clean drinking water, vegetables, clothes,
tents, cooking utensils and medicine.
If you wish to transfer funds, below are details of the account for
sending money to the LRC.
A/C Title: Labour Education Foundation
A/C Number: 01801876
Route:
Please advise and pay to Citi Bank, New York, USA Swift CITI US 33 for
onward transfer to BANK ALFALAH LTD., KARACHI, PAKISTAN A/C No. 36087144
and for final transfer to BANK ALFALAH LTD., LDA PLAZA, KASHMIR ROAD,
LAHORE, PAKISTAN Swift: ALFHPKKALDA for A/C No. 01801876 OF LABOUR
EDUCATION FOUNDATION.