Four main camps around Karachi

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 →

Volunteers needed – Karachi Relief Trust

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

20 Million Pakistanis in Desperate Need:

20 Million Pakistanis in Desperate Need: Why So Little Media Attention? Brookings on #Pkflood http://bit.ly/cdKeJD #Pakistan

Appeal from Zebu Jilani (granddaughter of the last Wali of Swat)

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 →

Pakistan flood victims export tomatoes, not terrorism

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.

‘Bridging Partition: People’s Initiatives for Peace’ review

‘Bridging Partition: People’s Initiatives for Peace Between India and Pakistan’ – recent publication including my essay – review in Daily Times

Updated: PIA offers Free Airlift of Relief Goods

Updated: PIA offers Free Airlift of Relief Goods thru its Domestic & International Network

Indian doctors for flood relief? Misleading reports

“We hope to be able to get some Indian doctors to volunteer for flood relief in Pakistan as a ‘goodwill gesture’ by Aug 24-25. Their number will certainly not exceed 10-15. It may be another 2-4 weeks before they will be able to go to serve in Pakistan if they are permitted,” clarified an organiser in response to an email today. “The 400 figure is sensationalist, and could be counterproductive”

Fair enough. So where did this story come from? 400 peace doctors may not get visas ??

Help lifesaving supplies get DIRECTLY to

Help lifesaving supplies get DIRECTLY to CHILDREN of Pakistan. Text FLOODS to 864233 to donate $10 to UNICEF USA (<3 Alyssa Milano, Rob Riggle for taking up Pakistan relief cause & highlighting children http://bit.ly/9fhJGP. THANK YOU)

Friends in USA: Send $10 thru your cell

Friends in USA: Send $10 thru your cell phones by texting the word “FLOOD” to 27722 – Set up by US State Dept Pakistan Relief Fund http://www.state.gov/pakistanrelief announced by Hillary Clinton today http://bit.ly/cVom6B