A series of eyewitness accounts from volunteers at relief camps across the country:
Pakistan has been through a lot in the last decade. We have had Taliban displacing millions, tremors leveling complete settlements and floods washing away our cities. But it is the current disaster that by far surpasses all. Amidst these natural and man-made disasters, I witnessed something positive, something which gives me hope. I saw unity, selflessness in Pakistanis who reached out to their fellow citizens irrespective of linguistic, religious and regional boundaries.
The Pakistan Youth Alliance (PYA), a youth-based organisation that comprises volunteers who want to create awareness and want to be the change that everyone talks about, started fundraising for the flood victims two weeks ago. So far we have made three deliveries to the worst-hit region, Nowshera and its surrounding towns; regular deliveries to relief camps will continue until the flood-waters recede. This week, three more deliveries to Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be made simultaneously.
We made trips to Nowshera last week where families were living in government schools that had been turned into relief shelters. We reached Ziarat Kaka Sahib on August 3 to find out how some locals found water coolers floating in the water, with babies inside them. Even as we made our way to the camp, a heavy downpour raised sirens of another potential flood.
I share a special bond with the region – I studied at the PAF Academy Risalpur in district Nowshera for four years and most of the people who lived in the region were reasonably well-off, owning small- to medium-sized businesses. I met an old acquaintance from my university days whose business was completely destroyed. It was also in our first food delivery that we witnessed a stampede as women, desperate to feed milk to their babies started fighting over the supplies. The worst hit cities of Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi and Charsadda had hosted the IDPs from Swat when nearly three million people were displaced due to military action in 2009. The Pashtun, known for their bravery and determination, are once again being tested to the core.
People at the relief camps seemed agitated by the authorities and complained of no proper evacuation plan when the flood was about to hit their vicinity. One such victim, Bano lost her husband, 5-year-old son and could not even save her ID card when water-level rose at 3 am that morning. According to locals, the Army, Air Force and other institutions had been evacuated three days ago, while the residents were left to survive in the monstrous floods.
After years of experience in relief work and delivering relief aid by hand well worth over Rs 10 million (all collected from streets, by literally begging in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad), I have realised how some of the aid being sent is also sometimes not needed, with those items being sold in black market on prices much higher than normal. Relief workers must conduct assessments of the region and only take those items needed instead of assuming what’s needed.
The monsoons will not end anytime soon and even if the rains do subside, there is still rehabilitation work that requires billions of rupees. But we cannot give up hope – trust me, we will see this through just like we have with other calamities that have hit our country.
Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi is the chairperson/founder of Pakistan Youth Alliance who tweets @Ali_Abbas_Zaidi and is available on Facebook as Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi. He can also be reached at damanwiddaplan@hotmail.com
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
None of that is going to happen, therefore the two sides are never going to stop fighting unless and until one of them is forced to do so. Period, end of sentence, end of paragraph, end of story. They have, as we say in the law, “irreconcilable differences.” Unfortunately, they cannot divorce nor divest, which is usually the remedy for same. So this will go on. Forever. It’s not going to stop. Ever.
Good work by the youth! PLease send in more articles, pictures and maps. I can’t understand where the floods are taking place.
Its you who will be the saviors of Pakistan- not the children of the generals and the feudals. I only wonder what the children of Nawaz Sharif, Gilani Zardari are doing right now? Handing out food and wading through rat infested flood waters or idly watching the news reports on TV wondering what will happen next.
Hi Sara,
Let’s not worry too much wheter the Children of Gilani, Sharif and Zardari are helping or not. The fact is everyone who can and is there in the region should do so there’s plenty that can be done.
One friend of mine has driven to an afected area sew a family without any possessions took them home with them and they are now staying there till further notice….
That’s what I call do what can be done…
Greetings and God Bless all the lovely people of PAKISTAN
Claudia Pinto
I congratulate PYA for their selfless relief work. Please continue your good deeds for the benefit of the whole of Pakistan. Please beware of any political alliances with all the corrupt parties. You are the future of Pakistan. You can make the difference.
Really this is another calamity inflicted upon us but as always we being the selfless and empathetic pakistanis that we are will see through this one as well and embrace the bright morning that awaits us inshAllah.Just keep faith.
I have been been following PYA since it started in 07 and you guys have lit the spark and many youth organizations take you as inpiration. Your work for swat idps and now floow relief has made us proud. I wish I could be more useful like Ali Abbas a living youth hero who has single handedly practically helpd thousands
Heart warming to know we still have people amongst us who want to reach out to n help the destitute and do so too. Unfortunately, its only times like these that makes us realize what we can do if we join our hands together!
nevertheless, great work PYA! We youth are the future of this country and we need to do the best we can!
Our heart reaches out to the affected people in Pakistan! I really hope we, from India, would be able to contribute our best to alleviate the condition of our brothers and sisters across the border. In solidarity! Rahul
Rahul,i must commend you.Really i appreciate your wish of alleviating the miseries of the flood affected.Thankyou,love your spirit.Peace
Great work PYA… its nice to know that we are not dead at all as a nation….
Well i am also a member of Pakistan Youth movement (PYM) http://www.pakistanyouthmovement.com, which is actively working in all the 4 provinces for flood victims.
A team of PYM left for Khyber Pakhtunkhua on friday 13th August 2010 with supplies and cash which will than be converted into supplies.
I would like to appeal all to donate generously for the flood victims in any way possible. you can donate in terms of cash, Supplies (Needed), or just be a voluteer in collecting donation for the flood victim. Visit our website to see the effort made by PYM volunteers in Karachi, lahore, khanewal and other cities of the nation.
(Pakistan Youth Movement is solely an independent entity and does not belong to any social, political and religious sect or group what so ever)
Heart melting
Ali Your selflessness and determination leaves me speechless…respect
I’ve collected a good amount of cash from my acquaintances and other people. Kindly let me know where i can donate this to you in Karachi, else I’ll be delivering it to PAF base camp.
Please consider donating for the flood victims. This page lists various methods to do so:
http://secularpakistan.wordpress.com/flood-relief/
We all in India feel for you Pakistan. We are with you in these tough times and keep you in our prayers.
I have made donations at our local charity and will make sure all my friends do so too.
I also hope that our government feel same way as we do and reach out to help you.
Stay Strong
Vishnu
Who’ll take care of the situation, all are busy in politics??
We are all aware of the wonderful selfless work PYA has been doing for long. Plz keep the candel burning Mr. Zaidi, we need ppl lyk you
Is there any site where one could make a contribution to a fund/charity to help the flood affected persons on the web?
http://rahber.org/floodrelief/organizations.html
http://www.pakistanyouthmovement.com
Please keep up your good work. Much more needs to be done by the government, by the big businesses. There are billions of rupees eaten by the big businessmen and big industrialists. It is time that the government asks them to cough up the money (that actually belongs to these poor hard working people of Pakistan) so it can be used for rehabilitation work. Big tax evading individuals and corporations need to be dealt with in the same manner.
All Pakistanis not so directly affected by the floods and who are enjoying the safety and comforts of their homes should scale down their life style. Even a 10% drop in their spending for not so essential needs can amount to a savings of billions of rupees that can be channelized for the aid of flood affected people. Advertisers on TV for luxury merchandise, please stop such advertisements and make available the amount so saved for the help of the affected people of Pakistan. A voice from Toronto
Great piece. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences. I especially appreciate that you ended with a message of hope. That’s what is needed most at this time in Pakistan.
Keep up the great work!
Great effort and work by PYA!
It feels great pleasure to know so many people working for the betterment of Pakistan, if only we had good leadership aswell. Pakistan Youth Alliance, you are indeed bringing a change!
fantastic work Pakistan Youth Alliance , Keep it up !
It is incredible what you people do to help others. Please recommend ways how everyone can contribute to help the flood victims.
Zareen!!! Great comment. We here in the UK would like to sharpen the awareness of all the great things people manage to do in these atrocious times… We in the UK are hungry to help….God Bless all the People of Pakistan…. As my friends would say….PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
Claudia Pinto
Keep up the good work guys ! couldn’t agree more.
i think what you youth are doing is wonderful! please keep sending in your articles! will try to donate too iA! : )