Some of you may have "disaster fatigue"..
Please don't let that turn your attention from what many call the "worst disaster in our lifetime".
Photo: (REUTERS/Stringer) |
This is getting worse before it gets better.
Please open your hearts, minds, and wallets to the people of Pakistan during what has become a time of the most urgent need in this country's history.
Healing Development Foundation is local group that will do good work with contributions.
Below are more photos to give you a sense of the enormity of the situation, details from the ground, and info about the relief group Human Development Foundation to which I was referred by Greg (Stones Into Schools) Mortnenson's non-profit (CAI).
From a powerful rescued diary yesterday by Kossack Sourmash
Dispatch from Pakistan
Everything is gone or ruined, all that is left is mud, dirt, silt, sand and ruined houses. Let’s start with the houses. Foundations are rarely very deep, people often build on cinderblocks to save money. Sometimes they don’t use much cement, or any at all, in their mortar. Many houses are just mud and stones. Those houses will literally dissolve. Many will be undermined and all houses will be unstable. Anything inside is ruined. Upholstered furniture, anything made of wood, paper or cloth is probably ruined beyond repair. That nice set of books you saved a year to buy? Ruined. Rugs, carpets, cabinetry, electronics, all ruined. Pictures, photos, snapshots of your family, your long dead father, your children’s baby photos? All ruined beyond recognition.
I could post any sentence from that diary and it would be enough to break one's heart. Do go read more there if you are wanting to hear the grim truth about the state of things on the ground, or the mud, as it were.
Photo:(REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro) |
In case you missed it in yesterday's NY Times:
U.N. Chief Appeals for Aid in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday the flooding in Pakistan was the worst disaster he had ever seen, and urged foreign donors to speed up assistance to the up to 20 million people affected.
Photo:(REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro) |
Pakistan floods: 3.5 million children at risk from deadly diseases, says UN
Shortage of clean water raises health fears as fresh protests erupt over slow delivery of aid
The UN said today that 3.5 million children in Pakistan are at risk from deadly waterborne diseases, as fresh protests erupted over the slow delivery of aid in the flood-ravaged country.
Youths affected by floods walk outside the ruins of their home which was washed away by heavy floods in Charsadda, northwest Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
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There is a local group to which donations will likely have a large and lasting impact-
Healing Development Foundation
http://www.hdf.com
(800) 705 1310
What they do:
With your help HDF transforms lives of poor communities through community mobilization training, education , micro-loans , health clinics , and physical infrastructure creation. Your generous support enables HDF to help people help themselves.
From their page about the flooding:
HDF is committed to work towards relief and reconstruction efforts in flood affected HDF program areas including Mardan and Tandoo Muhammad Khan. HDF already has the existing infrastructure and a team of trained employees and volunteers in place. Currently there is need for basic necessities like tents, blankets, cooking sets, utility containers, soap and bedding as well as, basic healthcare.
HDF staff has extensive training in disease prevention, providing clean water and sewage disposal, as well as, establishing temporary schooling facilities, so that affected families may have the semblance of a normal life. We have the knowhow, and after the 2005 earthquake we have the expertise. But we can not do this alone. We need your support in this time of need.
This video gives a more detailed look at the work they do, for those who are not yet convinced.
(Start video at 2:00 mark to avoid long-ish intro)
More details and videos at their site of theirYouTube channel.
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There are other groups that deserve support as well.
Here are a few I support and recommend:
Doctors without Borders (MSF) :
DONATE
The Red Cross:
DONATE
OXFAM:
With an estimated 6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, I am concerned that so far the international community hasn’t responded with the speed or on the scale warranted by a disaster of this magnitude.
DONATE
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Added at 1:25 PDT by the diarist:
From the US State dept.
h/t Ellinorianne
How You Can Help:
Text "SWAT" to 50555; $10 goes to fund for flood victims
I'm usually leery of such types of giving, due to phone companies who might profit, but if it gets food and water to even one child, then I guess it's worth it.
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NOTE:
These are but a handful of photos culled from a compliation on this site.
(Warning: These are Mind-boggling photos)
Their collection includes lots of other powerful Getty images and more like this.
Previous photos at the same site HERE.
My previous diaries about the floods HERE, HERE, and HERE.
An earlier glimpse into my 2 months visiting many of these same areas (in 2004) HERE.