Pakistan flood response

Sep 8th, 2010 5:28 PM UTC
By Michael Healy

Since the reports first reached our TV screens of the floods in Pakistan the public response to the disaster has been phenomenal, with the UK public alone raising over £47 million for the aid appeal.

The situation in Pakistan is dire: More than 20 million people have been displaced by the flooding, a fifth of the country is now under water, and more than 2 million acres of crops have been destroyed. Thousands of people have lost their lives and millions more have lost their homes, whilst severe threats of water-borne diseases and malnutrition are putting survivors of the initial floods at further risk. And all this in a country where 60% of the population were already living below the poverty line.

In order to recover from this destruction Pakistan will need all the help it can get.

On Saturday ONE launched a petition calling on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to freeze Pakistan’s debt and we have already received over 20,000 signatures! This is fantastic and we are now over halfway to our new target of 40,000.

Since its launch the petition has received the backing of major aid organisations – Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid – and Members of Parliament from the major political parties here in the UK, Labour’s Sadiq Khan, Liberal Democrat Tim Farron and the Conservative’s Andrew Stephenson.

A spokesperson for Muslim Aid said:

“It is a collective responsibility for all Governments and financial institutions around the world to ease the pressure on Pakistan during this crisis. It will help Pakistan to reduce the debt burden whilst it continues to endure unspeakable suffering. 20 million people are without food, water, shelter and a basic education; the focus must remain on rehabilitation in Pakistan for not just the short but long term future.”

Islamic Relief UK Director Jehangir Malik said:

“Islamic Relief have been delivering emergency assistance to people affected on the ground at Pakistan, but this recovery effort will last years and needs maximum available resources. ONE’s campaign to ease Pakistan’s debt burden is a vital part of this. We are urging our supporters to sign this petition and send a strong message to the IMF”.

Thank you to all ONE members who have signed the petition so far. If you haven’t yet signed please do so. And if you have, please pass it onto your friends and family. Every extra name really does make a difference.

TAGS: Debt, Pakistan