islamirama
www.netmuslims.com
Assalamu alaikum. Peace be upon you
Since August 18th, 2011, continuous heavy rains have flooded several districts of Southern Pakistan. Millions of people have been affected and thousands of mud homes have been destroyed. They need your help.
Some of the same regions of Pakistan that were devastated by floods in the summer of 2010 are under water once again in September 2011 amid another round of monsoon rains.
As the flooding has intensified in recent days, families have again been forced from their homes and left searching for temporary shelter. Sindh—heavily damaged last year—is the area hardest hit by the current flooding, with nearly the entire province covered in water. Parts of Balochistan Province also are underwater.
The continuing rain has disrupted communication and electricity and complicated relief efforts. Schools are closed in Karachi and Hyderabad. Floodwater has washed into drinking-water sources, contaminating them with bacteria that can cause illnesses. Aware that the drinking water is unsafe, some populations are relying on open pond water, which also carries the risk of spreading communicable diseases. The heavy rainfall is continuing as of Sept. 15.
The hardest-hit areas—including nearly all of Sindh Province as well as neighboring regions—are some of the same areas that were devastated by last year's floods. Families have had to pick up and leave their homes again and look for somewhere dry to stay. Hundreds of thousands of people are staying in shelters. Some have not yet found shelter, and they're staying by the side of the roads.
Although the flooding has made it difficult to bring help to the people who need it, Islamic Relief Pakistan's offices are currently helping victims. Emergency camp residents have received hygiene kits and water containers to hold clean, safe water. Waterborne illness is one of the biggest threats in a flood zone: After last year's floods, millions of people came down with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.
There are cases of malaria, scabies, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections already surfacing among the most vulnerable victims of the floods. Children are mostly affected. HHRD medical clinics has treated over 1000 patients this week.
The hygiene kits and clean water that Islamic Relief offices are delivering are helping keep Pakistani families in flood zones safe from these illnesses.
Emergency Relief efforts are ongoing and the severity of the situation is growing as there is little help getting to the flood affected victims. There is fear of severe cases of disease and malnutrition. Please come forward to help your brothers and sisters.
By the Numbers
More than 5.3 million people have been affected by monsoon rains
230 people died in the first few weeks since the flooding started
1.1 million homes have been damaged
(Sources: National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan)
How You Can Help
Here are three ways you can help us help the people of Pakistan.
Participate by organizing and attending local fundraisers 
Advocate by sharing information about charity’s efforts with your social media networks.
Donate to the Pakistan 2011 Flood Emergency fundCharities involved in relief efforts:
Islamic Relief - https://donate.irusa.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=569
Helping Hands - https://www.hhrd.org/donate.aspx?proid=75
Hidaya - https://donation.hidaya.org/donation.aspx?projectId=45
Note: You can share this info with your network by either sharing this post's link (like in FB) or save the attached PDF file and emailing to your contacts.
