Dear friends,
We wish to share with you the following statement from Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP).
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Statement from Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN: Appeal for Pakistan Flood Relief Funds for women, children, and the elderly
http://www.learningpartnership.org/en/partners/pakistan/flood-relief
August 24, WLP’s partner in Pakistan, the Aurat Foundation, has launched a nation-wide flood relief campaign to meet the urgent needs of women, children, and the elderly. We need your help to provide critical supplies to the flood’s most vulnerable victims.
Pakistan is currently facing the worst disaster in its history. Massive floods have engulfed large portions of the country, directly affecting 20 million people. The resulting human suffering is enormous. Over 2,000 people have died, with the number rising each day. Millions have become homeless and lack clean water, food, and medical supplies. Sanitary conditions have deteriorated and disease poses a serious threat. 3.5 million displaced children risk death from diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, resulting from polluted water and lack of sanitation. Over 8 million acres of wheat, cotton, sugarcane, and other crops have already been ruined, leading to grave concerns of food insecurity for months to come. (see pictures of the devastation in Pakistan)
WLP’s partner the Aurat Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to working for women’s empowerment and development in Pakistan, has a large grassroots network with a presence in all of the country’s 110 districts. Aurat Foundation began conducting relief activities immediately after the floods hit, and has now launched the Motherland Flood Relief Campaign in order to meet the overwhelming needs of people on the ground. Mobilizing hundreds of their volunteers in citizens’ action committees for women’s rights, women’s leaders groups, and district coordination committees, Aurat is working to provide vital humanitarian supplies to women, children, and the elderly.
Women, particularly heads-of-households and pregnant women, face some of the gravest threats. They have less access to relief and aid, as relief efforts by the government and aid organizations often do not meet their specific needs. Approximately 90,000 pregnant flood victims are currently at risk because of lack of medical services and supplies. In addition, women and girls in the flooded regions are suffering from under- and mal-nutrition, anemia, poor hygiene and sanitation, and greater vulnerability to disease.
Hundreds of volunteers with the Aurat Foundation are working with existing flood relief centers and setting up new centers throughout the country to ensure that vulnerable groups receive much needed assistance. They will use donated funds to provide flood victims with clean water, water sanitation tablets, dried cereal grains, rice, flour, basic food items, vitamins, medicines, soap, personal hygiene products, and cooking utensils. In addition, the Campaign is also focusing specifically on meeting women’s immediate needs including the provision of sanitary napkins, undergarments, and other essential clothing.
Please send your contribution today
Each donation will make an immediate difference in the life of a flood victim
100% of your donation goes to Aurat Foundation’s flood relief work and is tax-deductable in the United States. For updates on the ongoing relief activities, please visit the Aurat Foundation’s Motherland Flood Relief Campaign website.
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.
