Excellent, current maps that show the situation in #Pakistan, the flooding and relief efforts. http://bit.ly/bm6CwZ Via @HumanityRoad
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Flood relief: Beyond politics
Posted on August 29, 2010 by beenasarwar
Article published in Aman ki Asha page, Aug 25, 2010
Beyond politics
It is heartening to see efforts by Indians and others around the world to help Pakistan in its hour of need
Even as the deadliest floods in living memory rage across Pakistan – affecting more people than the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the 2006 Asian tsunami, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined – tensions between India and Pakistan can still obstruct efforts to help those in need. With over 20 million people affected – more than the population of Australia or several European nations – and about a quarter of Pakistan under water, some people still find time to play politics.
When India generously offered $5 million to Pakistan, cyberspace and media pundits exploded with negative comments. From Pakistan came comments like: “Too little too late” and “Pakistan should not accept because of the bloodbath in Kashmir”. From India came: “The PM should withdraw the offer if Pakistan doesn’t immediately accept it”, and “India should not offer aid to Pakistan because they sponsor terrorism”.
It is to the credit of both governments that they did not succumb to this pressure. Meanwhile, Indians at home and abroad, as well as others, are increasingly stepping up on a private level to help out with flood relief efforts in Pakistan. Continue reading
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: Adam Malik, Aitzaz Ahsan, American Muslim Voice, anna grichting, B.M. Kutty, COVA, Feroze Mithiborewala, Iqbal Haider, Jatin Desai, Kamla Bhasin, Karamat Ali, Kuldip Nay, Mahesh Bhatt, Mazher Hussain, Mohd. Tahseen, Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice, Our Developing World, P.V. Rajagopal, pakistan floods, PakUSOnline, peace march, relief efforts, Saeeda Diep, Samina Khan, Sandeep Pandey, SARelief., sheema kermani, Shireen Gandhy, Sufi Moon, The Citizens Foundation-USA, Varsha V.V. | 4 Comments »
Fight The Flood – Bridge Our Divide. New blog.
Posted on August 26, 2010 by beenasarwar
Fight The Flood – Bridge Our Divide. New blog, check it out (via Wajahat S. Khan) compiling information about Pakistan floods, blogs etc.
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: floods, Media, Pakistan | 2 Comments »
Personal note: Flood relief in remote Kohistan, by Rashida Dohad
Posted on August 26, 2010 by beenasarwar
Agreeing on the process of distribution, Kandia Valley, District Kohistan. Photos: courtesy OAK Foundation
Distributing food in Kandia Valley, Kohistan
Below, a personal note of Aug 25, 2010 about flood relief efforts in Kohistan, from Rashida Dohad, who works with the Omar Asghar Khan Foundation (see website for updates, an overview of their flood relief efforts and photo gallery). As explained on the website, floods have affected 16 (nine severely) of the 24 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Many in need of urgent aid are difficult to access as areas are isolated due to road/bridge destruction/damage; and blockages due to landslides. The Foundation is initially focusing on the following districts: Nowshera, Charsadda, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram and Mansehra.” Read on for Rashida’s account of their rather dramatic recent trip to the remote Kandian Valley in Kohistan: Continue reading
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: baboosar pass, Babusar Pass, Balakot, Battagram, charsadda, Chilas Valley, flood relief, Kandian Valley, Kohistan, Lallopatsar Lake, Mansehra, Naran, Nowshera, oak foundation, omar asghar khan foundation, Pakistan, Pani Bah, rashida dohad, Shangla | 6 Comments »
Four main camps around Karachi
Posted on August 26, 2010 by beenasarwar
On the side of Super Highway, children running after a Suzuki with relief goods (not managed). Photos: Yasir Husain
Received this information in an email from Yasir Husain, Karachi, Aug 24, 2010:
A C-130 from Jacobabad airlifted a group of stranded people to Karachi. These people are in a number of camps I visited in the Hawkesbay / Keamari / Manghopir area. One has 650 tents, and is generally secure and well catered for. The area has electricity and a tent hospital with beds.
Another camp close by is in a girls’ college on the main Hawkesbay Rd. The college was built by PPP government 15 years ago. It never opened or finished, but still gets additions. The refugees from upper Sindh housed here are being well looked after, but say they were never told that they were being taken to Karachi, or Mangopir. Ambulances and police are on standby, and district officers are on duty. There was an anti-mosquito spray at the college, which had a generator on standby, but no electricity. Continue reading
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: displaced, floods, karachi, Pakistan, relief camps | Leave a comment »
Volunteers needed – Karachi Relief Trust
Posted on August 26, 2010 by beenasarwar
CALL OUT TO ALL CITIZENS – WANTED: Volunteers to help with food distribution, camp management, data collection.
The Karachi Relief Trust urgently requires volunteers for camp management& food distributions in IDP camps in Sindh. KRT has already provided 4000 families with immediate relief in Nowshera and Charsadda and is currently providing food, immediate relief and shelter in the severe flood affected areas of Sindh. KRT has experienced staff in humanitarian relief and disaster management and is working around the clock to ensure efficient and equitable relief and rehablitation to those affected. We are now looking for a team of dedicated volunteers to help with food distribution, camp management, data collection etc.
- Camp Locations: Shikarpur, Moro, Sakhrand, Thul, Sukkur, Ghotki and Jhal Magsi are some of the camps in Sindh.
- Duration: a minimum of 7 days. You can volunteer individually or volunteer together as a group of 4-5 people.
- What do we want you to do?: Food distribution, camp management, data collection, coordination with karachi team etc.
Accommodation and travel will be provided. Briefing and training will be provided to all volunteers before they leave.
For more information or to volunteer: Please email adoptacamp@karachirelief.org or moneeza.ahmed@gmail.com
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: floods, Karachi Relief, Pakistan, volunteers wanted, water filter | 5 Comments »
20 Million Pakistanis in Desperate Need:
Posted on August 25, 2010 by beenasarwar
20 Million Pakistanis in Desperate Need: Why So Little Media Attention? Brookings on #Pkflood http://bit.ly/cdKeJD #Pakistan
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Appeal from Zebu Jilani (granddaughter of the last Wali of Swat)
Posted on August 22, 2010 by beenasarwar
Zebu Jilani (right) speaks to women in Swat, July 2010. Photo courtesy Globe & Mail.
The people of Swat suffered first under the Taliban, than due to army action and now due to floods. Inspiring to see their resilience and efforts to get back on their feet. See article in the Globe & Mail: A princess returns to the Swat Valley, Akbar Ahmed’s Huffington Post article Compassion in Taliban Territory, and email below from Zebu Jilani, granddaughter of the last Wali of Swat. Continue reading
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: akbar ahmed, floods, Pakistan, Swat, swat relief, wali of swat | 3 Comments »
Pakistan flood victims export tomatoes, not terrorism
Posted on August 21, 2010 by beenasarwar
Must read. Pakistan flood victims ‘have no concept of terrorism’. Mohammed Hanif on Pakistan’s 20 million flood victims – our “invisible slave army” that exports tomatoes, not terrorism, in BBC’s ‘From our own correspondent’. Includes link to listen to or download podcast.
Filed under: Floods | Tagged: bbc south asia, hanif, mohammed hanif, pakistan floods, terrorism | 1 Comment »
‘Bridging Partition: People’s Initiatives for Peace’ review
Posted on August 21, 2010 by beenasarwar
‘Bridging Partition: People’s Initiatives for Peace Between India and Pakistan’ – recent publication including my essay – review in Daily Times
Filed under: Pakistan-India | 3 Comments »
Journeys to democracy 