Pakistan Floods Appeal

Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches Pakistan Floods Appeal

The government of Pakistan estimates that a third of the country – an area the size of the UK – is under water. At least 1,100 people have died, and around 33 million people are affected – around one in seven Pakistanis. More than a million homes have been destroyed or badly damaged, leaving many people homeless and exposed to the elements. Whole villages have been cut off, with rescuers struggling to reach them.

The rainfall that Pakistan is seeing is 2.87 times higher than the national 30-year average, with the worst affected provinces seeing five times as much rainfall as their 30-year average, according to the UN. It warns the humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate, as heavy rains continue over areas already inundated by more than two months of storms and flooding. The UN Secretary General António Guterres has called the situation a “climate catastrophe” and has called on the world to send humanitarian assistance.

Already, huge swathes of agricultural land have been affected, with crops swept away and three quarters of a million livestock killed, which will mean many people going hungry in the longer-term. Humanitarian agencies are scrambling to respond to meet people’s basic needs such as food, clean water and shelter, and the government of Pakistan has called for international assistance to provide humanitarian assistance.

DEC Agency Response

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. Members include six agencies active in Scotland, namely Islamic Relief Scotland, Oxfam Scotland, the British Red Cross, Tearfund, Save The Children and Christian Aid Scotland. Eleven of the DEC’s 15 member charities are responding on the ground providing life-saving support directly or through local partners. However, they need more funds to scale up while coordinating with the local authorities and UN agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance in ways that best address the needs and complements the government-led response in Pakistan.

The most urgent needs include clean water, food, emergency shelter, health assistance, sanitation and hygiene, protection, cash assistance, livelihoods support including seeds, as well as immediate disaster response like the distribution of life jackets. The floods are having a huge impact on access to clean water, toilets and handwashing facilities. There are already reports of cases of cholera. Providing cash assistance and protection have also been identified as priorities, with the latter focusing on child protection, psychological support and distributing dignity kits. In the longer term, work to restore livelihoods through the provision of seeds and livestock will also be vital.

How you can help?

Donations can be made by using the following mechanisms:
• Online (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)
• Phone: 0330 678 1000. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply
• SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70000. Texts cost £10 plus the standard network charge and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information visit the Disaster Emergency Committee (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) website.
• Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office or send a cheque by post to DEC Pakistan Floods Humanitarian Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.