Pakistan Flood Relief: What You Can Do to Help

by Rabya, Sabba, and Aparna

“When faced with the tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti and other natural disasters, we showed extraordinary humanity. Let us do so again today. Together, let us stand with the people of Pakistan. Let us act so that this natural disaster does not become a man-made catastrophe. Let us give this our all.” — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

The magnitude of the flooding is affecting more individuals than the tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Katrina combined, affecting  more than 20 million people–unprecedented in Pakistan’s history.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE OR HELP; EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS, WHETHER IT’S $1 OR $100. If you are unable to give a monetary donation, please pass on the information, remember the flood victims in your prayers/thoughts, do your own fundraising (like a flood relief run, jewelry/accessories sale, or bake sale), or do whatever else you can. Below is a list of agencies doing work on the ground for flood relief in Pakistan, and links. Please check their websites for details.

NEWS UPDATES:

Pakistan floods on Twitter

Pakistan floods: Before and after photos

Challenges in distributing flood relief aid

Chapati Mystery – Pakistan Flood 2010

Link TV updates and relief guide

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RADIO INTERVIEWS:

Asia Pacific Forum interviews with Dr. Ahmed Muktar of Doctors Without Borders in Pakistan and Saadia Toor of Action for a Progressive Pakistan

WBEZ Chicago interview with Navaid Abidi, Human Development Foundation board member, on their flood relief efforts

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AGENCIES:

Note: Numerous NGOs are doing important work that may benefit Pakistan flood victims. Use due diligence in giving donations to any unknown group.

The Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation: The Edhi Foundation has a long history of working across Pakistan doing a range of charitable relief work. It has one of the most extensive networks across each of the country’s provinces. Please call the numbers below or send an email for directions on how to donate. Please note that this organization has U.S. status and can receive checks.
42-07 National Street
Corona, New York, 11368 USA
Tel: (718) 639-5120 or (718) 639-5120
Fax:(718) 335-1978
Toll Free# 1-888-899-EDHI or 1-888-899-EDHI
Email: edhi@cyber.net.pk

AmeriCares:  Medicines, medical supplies and equipment, nutritional support, etc.

Direct Relief International:  Mobile health teams and medical supplies, including Pedialyte and antimicrobials.

Helping Hand Foundation: Their Chicago office collected clothes/supplies and shipped out this past weekend.

Human Development Foundation:  Relief/reconstruction, including clean water, supplies, disease prevention, sewage disposal, temporary school facilities.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders):  Medical care; clean water; supply kits, including mosquito netting, tarps, blankets, hygiene supplies, clothes.

Mercy Corps:  Water supply kits, including tanks, purification tablets, filtration units; food supply kits, including rice, oil, staples; tool kits.

Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation: The Omar Ashgar Khan Development Foundation has offices in Islamabad and Abbotabad and field offices and staff throughout Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. They are also providing flood relief.

Account Name: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation
Account Number: 058512020005422
Bank Name: MCB Bank (0585), Main Branch, Abbotabad, Pakistan
Swift Code: MUCBPKKAMCC

Oxfam International:  Hot food; clean water; boats for search/rescue; installation of tanks and toilets; sanitation kits; hygiene supplies; cash-for-work programs.

Red Crescent:  Emergency services; food packs; bulk rice; tents; other supplies; help with field operations, including shelter, water, sanitation, logistics, other relief.

Relief International:  Distributing “Survival Kits,” including dishes/utensils; water purification tablets; cooking stove; jerrycan; floor mat; mosquito netting; hygiene kits; etc.

Sarhad Rural Support Programme: SRSP is working in the different flood-affected valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including in Shangla, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, and Chitral.

Account Name: Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP)
Account Number: (US Dollar Account) 05-7772777-90
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Peshawar Branch
Bank Address: P.O Box # 18, 35 Sharah e Quaid-e-Azam, Peshawar, Pakistan Zip/Post: 25000
Swift Code: SCBL PKKX
Tel Number: +92915275665, +92915275665
Fax Number +92915275367

ShelterBox:  Distributing water carriers; filtration systems; ShelterBoxes, including 10-person partitioned weatherproof tents, insulated ground sheets, thermal blankets, mosquito netting, tool kits, stoves, dishes/utensils, water purification supplies, children’s kits, etc.

Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre: Shirkat Gah – Women’s Resource Centre (SG), Pakistan, is actively engaged in providing and coordinating relief to those affected across Pakistan through its partner community-based organizations in synchronization with all three Shirkat Gah offices in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Shirkat Gah is also a grantee partner of the Global Fund for Women (a peer/ally of Grassroots International–see below). For further information please contact (any) of the following:

Ms. Humaira Sheikh
humairamshaikh@gmail.com
Mobile: +92-300-846-1142

Ms. Sadia Ahmed
sadia@sgah.org.pk
Phone: +92-42-35836554

Please note: All individuals/organizations transferring funds to SG should intimate them of the details of transfer. You can send your contribution to the following Shirkat Gah accounts:

Shirkat Gah’s Bank Details – USD account (US Dollar account):

Account Title:  Shirkat Gah
Branch Office Lahore Account No: 05-5307597-79
Account Currency: US$
Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Ltd
Bank Address: 27 Ali Block, New Garden Town Lahore, Pakistan
Swift Code: SCBLPKKX

Sindh Labour Relief Committee: A number of progressive labor, women’s, youth, and other groups have formed the Sindh Labour Relief Committee (SLRC) to coordinate relief efforts in areas of Sindh affected by the floods.

Contact persons:

Nasir Mansoor
ntufpak@gmail.com
Phone: 92300-3587211

Abira Ashfaq
abira_a@hotmail.com
Phone: 92314-2003885

You can send checks or money orders to the following New York-based accounts for further credit to Pakistan banks in Karachi and the SLRC account as indicated below.

JP Morgan Chase Bank Ltd, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33

American Express Bank Ltd, New York
SWIFT Code: AEIBUS33

Further credited to: NIB Bank Ltd, Gulshan, Karachi, Pakistan, SWIFT Code: NIBPPKKA

Favoring: Labour Education Foundation, Account Number: 0009-0270652 (with NIB Bank Ltd, Gulshan, Karachi)

Sindh Rural Support Organisation: SRSO is now accepting donations from philanthropic individuals, nonprofit organizations, and corporations to provide relief in flood-affected areas of upper Sindh. You can send your contributions to:

Standard Chartered Bank, New York
to transfer to

JS Bank Ltd. , Karachi, Pakistan
Swift Code: SCBLUS33 (Standard Chartered)
Account number of JS Bank (with Standard Chartered): 3582039975001
Swift Code: JSBLPKKA (JS Bank Ltd)
Number of SRSO Flood Relief Account (with JS Bank): 198068

For more information on relief efforts and how to donate please contact:

Mr. Ghias Muhammad Khan (Coordinator Sindh RSP’s Consortium)
ghiasmkhan@gmail.com

Dr. Ghulam Rasool Samejo
grsamejo@thardeep.org

Sungi Development Foundation:
US$ Account: Sungi Development Foundation
Account Number: 412-2
Branch Code: 0585
Online transfer code: 058512020004122
MCB Star Branch, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Swift Code: MUCBPKKA

The Citizens Foundation: They build schools in Pakistan.

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees):  Through partner NGOs, distributing tents, sheeting/tarps, cooking sets, buckets, sleeping mats, blankets, etc.

U.S. State Department Texting Program:  Forwards $10 donations to UNHCR for distribution of supplies in two provinces.  Text “SWAT” to 50555.

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WITHIN PAKISTAN:

Eisaar Trust: SAPAC Core Member Sabba’s friend & her mother are working with them in Lahore.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society: Offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.

RONAQ-E-QAINAAT: Young doctors are in the process of arranging a series of free medical camps in the flood-affected areas. First Camp is at Nowshera. Contact Ms. Alina Akhyar at alinaakhyar@yahoo.com to email you the Trust’s past activities, bank account details, and other queries. They have reportedly done some pretty impressive work.

Account number: 00400101065364
Account Title: Khadija Nadeem; Askari Bank Chaklala Scheme 3 branch Rawalpindi
Khadija is the founding member and is handling all donations.

The Volunteers/Voice of the Civil Society: VOTCS is a registered (No. DSW 3369-K) welfare organization in Pakistan, operating as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit public charity in North America. They are sending provisions to affected areas with the help of Pakistan Army. For more info call:

Hadia Khan
Phone: +92-3018245999

Sadia Haroon
Phone: +92-3218251122

Irum Farooque
Phone: +92-3002332142.

For donations: Habib Bank Limited
Account Number: 1549-79001393-03