For 5 weeks, the people of Pakistan have struggled to cope with the aftermath of the worst humanitarian crisis our world has seen this century. It is teetering on the edge of becoming worse than anything from the previous century as well.
Many have thought of the flooding as a normal, natural event that comes with an unusually heavy monsoon. But, as with so many modern weather phenomena, there is so much more than meets the eye.
Most analyses of the severity of the flooding have concluded that climate change worsened the impact of the monsoon. Deforestation by the "timber mafia" has exacerbated the impact of the storms. Water projects have diverted natural drainage for vast agricultural projects, primarily cotton crops for Pakistan's textile industry.
Any objective look at the crisis must clearly place blame on global capitalism, and the millions of victims as blameless collateral damage.
Help Pakistan is a group dedicated to getting needed humanitarian support to flood ravaged Pakistan, and disseminating information pertaining to the floods to the dailykos community at large. Our goal is getting donations to those people who need it most.
If you have a negative comment pertaining to Pakistan, its people, its culture, or its relationship with the United States, please refrain from making it here. If you would like to be a part of our group, please click the picture at the bottom of this diary.
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Credit where due- I've railed against the NYTimes when they have buried stories from the floods; earlier today it was the top item on their front page:
Floods in Pakistan Carry the Seeds of Upheaval
"The people say this was an act of God," the governor, Salman Taseer, said in an interview after reassuring the crowd. "But what comes now, they say, is the act of man. If we don’t deliver, they will not forgive us."
After scathing criticism that they were unprepared for the disaster and inept in their initial response, government officials, ministers and even President Asif Ali Zardari are crisscrossing flood-affected areas of the country in a frantic effort to ease public anger and despair.
I know the "us" Mr. Taseer used refers to local officials, but part of me feels it refers to us.
Ya know, the world.
You.
ME.
Nearly 10 million people are considered short of food and their situation will remain precarious for six months to a year
I feel a kinship with these people because I know what it is like to live a simple life. I have never been a wealthy man; not even close. However, I have also never come close to dealing with the types of trials that millions of innocent people are facing there right now.
People had little before, but they were getting by.
Now they have nothing, and each day has another question mark.
Will I eat today?
Will my children get sick?
Will there be help, or will we be on our own?
It might be debatable about just how much of this disaster was natural, and how much worse it was rendered by climate change.
But what is clearly not debatable is that the relief efforts are on us. This phase of the crisis is man-made. Will it be sufficient? Or will things become worse?
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I find myself at a loss of words today. The scale and scope of the crisis is beyond words. And what few words that have tried to describe it are too seldom read. People are tired of hearing about these floods already. But then, they never really wanted to hear about them in the first place.
No matter how tired we are of hearing about it, we will never approach how tired they are of dealing with its effects every hour of every day.
Reuters Pictures
They have been in need for over one month.
They need our help now more than ever.
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If you can spare a couple lattes' worth of cash, you will be making a big difference in someone's life today.
Greg (Three Cups of Tea, Stones Into Schools) Mortenson's non-profit (CAI ) recommends supporting a local (Pakistani) group to which donations will likely have a large, immediate, and lasting impact-
Human Development Foundation
http://www.hdf.com
(800) 705 1310
DONATE
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Other groups that deserve support as well.
Doctors without Borders (MSF):
DONATE
OXFAM:
DONATE
Direct Relief International:
DONATE
Mercy Corps:
DONATE
UNICEF:
DONATE
Toll free: 1-800-FOR-KIDS (1-800-367-5437)
Text: "Text FLOODS to 864233 (UNICEF) to donate $10"
Shelterbox:
DONATE
ShelterBox tents in Shishkat upper Hunza, Pakistan
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From the US State dept.
How You Can Help:
Text "FLOOD" to 27722. Your $10 will go to the State Department Fund for Pakistan Relief that Secretary Clinton announced August 19, and is part of a new effort to bring attention to the need for aid.
Text "SWAT" to 50555 ; $10 goes to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees fund for flood victims
Don't have money to spare?
That's OK.
Please consider signing this petition to forgive Pakistan's debt so they can instead use their scant resources to aid the suffering millions of people in their country.
Sign the Avaaz.org Petition
Click
< ===== HERE
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Some of us at Daily Kos use a Google group to help organize relief for the crisis in Pakistan.
Anyone who would like to get involved, share resources, or get alerts when a new HELP PAKISTAN diary is posted, please join.
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