UK aid worker, Habib Malik, reports from the ground with daily blogs. Click here to Donate to Pakistan Floods Emergency Appeal

HRH The Prince of Wales has sent a message of support to Islamic Relief along with a generous donation for the victims of the Pakistan floods. He has selected the charity as the recipient of his generosity after a history of royal support.

Jehangir Malik, UK Manager of Islamic Relief said, “We are honoured to receive such generous support from HRH The Prince of Wales who has long been a supporter of Islamic Relief. We have staff tirelessly working on the ground in Pakistan around the clock to bring vital aid to the areas devastated by the floods. There is much to be done.”

The Pakistan army has requested supplies from Islamic Relief in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which are already in stock. IR has handed over family tents to the Pakistan Army to be pitched in affected areas.

Blog of UK aid worker

Habib Malik, Islamic Relief UK aid worker is posting blogs daily on the IR website. He met with survivors in Nowshera which was one of the worst affected areas. He said:

“I met with people in a college site in Nowshera which is being used to accommodate displaced people. Around 1,000 people have been registered, they have no belongings, only the clothes they are wearing. Every person has a story to tell. Some of the women, the elderly and vulnerable young children told me that when the floods came, they rushed to the top of their houses waiting for the air rescue, but it never arrived. So they ended up sleeping on their roofs. And they are the lucky ones. Others have seen their loved ones washed away with their homes.

Some people have seen their livelihoods destroyed in front of their eyes. It’s a desperate situation, but the people are not showing signs of desperation. They are being incredibly patient.“

• Over 100k has been raised in the UK so far. More is needed to reach the £2 million target.
• Islamic Relief has had a strong presence in Pakistan since 1992.
• IR has nine field offices in Pakistan
• Blog - IR has a worker on the ground who updates a blog twice daily for the IR website
• Emergency food supplies are being delivered to 2,000 families in Muzaffarabad
• Blankets, tents, hygiene kits, floor mats have been distributed to families

Islamic Relief is a member of the Disaster Emergency Committee who will launch the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal at midnight today.

Notes to editors:

A £2 million global appeal has been launched by Islamic Relief in order to provide urgent assistance to survivors who are struggling to find clean water, food, shelter and healthcare. With 45 bridges destroyed in the Swat district alone, survivors are facing many obstacles trying to access these basics.

Flash floods and landslides have killed at least 1500 people and affected three million in north-west Pakistan.

Islamic Relief has already begun distributing blankets and tents to those affected by the flooding. But more is needed to prevent the death toll from escalating.

Donate to Islamic Relief’s Pakistan Flood Appeal and help us to deliver life-saving aid to survivors of the disaster.

Scale of the disaster

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa announced the latest death toll. He added, "We fear the death toll will rise once the water recedes. We are facing the worst disaster in the history of our province."

The government of Pakistan declared a state of emergency as 312mm (12in) of rain had fallen over the last 36 hours in the north-west, according to the local meteorological department. This is the highest rainfall Pakistan has seen for decades.

The 3 million citizens of Peshawar, the region’s largest city, have been cut off from surrounding areas. Survivors are taking shelter in schools, mosques and areas of high ground.

Islamic Relief has offices in Balochistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Swat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. All of these districts have been affected by the disaster.

Islamic Relief has been assisting vulnerable people in Pakistan since 1992. After a deadly earthquake hit the region in 2005, Islamic Relief helped raise more than £35 million in aid for survivors. Survivors of the monsoon urgently need food, water and shelter.

Breakdown of what can be bought:

• £20 will buy a family hygiene kit
• £40 will buy a food pack for a family
• £150 will buy a family tent

IR’s past work in Pakistan:

• Helped raise more than £35 million in aid for survivors after a deadly earthquake hit the region in 2005.
• Successfully implemented development projects in Pakistan, including orphan support, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, vocational training, and many others.

Contact:

Media queries:

Ruqaya Izzidien

07855499645

Click here to donate to Pakistan Flood Emergency Appeal