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August 2010 - Pakistan Flood Relief
Large-scale floods across Pakistan have affected 14million people and left many homeless and families without basic necessities. The Salvation Army in Pakistan is responding to this heart-breaking disaster in any way they can.
As the situation develops, we will provide updates from our International Headquarters. You can help the relief effort by donating online.
Latest updates from our International Headquarters
August 17 - Salvation Army Provides Aid to Further Three Hundred Families in Pakistan
THE Salvation Army in Pakistan continued its initial response to the floods that have are now thought to have affected 20 million people by distributing bedding and cooking utensil packs to 300 families in Charsada. An assessment team visited Charsada a week earlier and discovered that the floods had devastated the town, wrecking homes and businesses.
The distribution team included Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam (Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army's Pakistan Territory) and Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf (Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries).
The first distribution, to 100 families, took place at Charsada Bible Church. Lieut-Colonel Ghulam spoke to community members, offering sympathy.
The Bishop of Peshawar arrived during the distribution and thanked The Salvation Army for its work. Members of the local media were also present and asked many questions about The Salvation Army.
The next distribution was in a hujra (an annex to a main building) in Charsada for two hundred Muslim families. There was a large crowd of people already gathered when the team arrived but the proceedings went smoothly. The chief secretary gave a short message for the community and the bishop offered words of comfort. Local Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Mr Javed Prince added a few words of sympathy for the community.
One of the recipients in Charsada was Noor Ali, a student. He told the Salvation Army team that his family fled their home when the waters began to rise. When they returned home the house was full of water.
He said: 'We are determined to face this big challenge. We will do hard work to reconstruct our houses. At the moment we are having problems but we are brave and we can fight.'
Imran Azm, a policeman who works in Peshawar, collected supplies for his parents. He told team members that he is determined to provide for his family.
Both Noor and Imran expressed their gratitude for what they described as a 'token of love' given by The Salvation Army.
The next day, the team visited Academy Town Corps (Salvation Army church) to meet affected families. Assessment visits were also made to Nowshera, Pabi, Jahangia and Aza khail, all communities near the River Kabul.
In Aza khail the team saw people in desperate need. The community of around 15,000 people was near to the river and its houses were washed away. The people who remain explained that many bodies have yet to be found because they were swept away by the flood or buried under rubble.
The community members asked for tents to provide shelter. The Salvation Army is putting together funds so it can look to buy a large number of tents that will begin to address some of the people's most urgent needs.
Adapted from a report by Captain Imran Sabir
August 11 - Salvation Army in Pakistan Starts Distribution Program
The Salvation Army in Pakistan has distributed relief packages to 150 families affected by the flooding that continues to cause misery across a large region of the country. The packages consist of a mattress, quilts, pillows and a set of kitchen utensils.
The distribution took place in a health centre run by the Church of Pakistan in Risalpur, about 36 miles from Peshawar in north-west Pakistan. The packs were given to Christian, Muslim and Hindu families sheltering in St Mary's and St Joseph's school.
Captain Washington Daniel (Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army's Islamabad Division) reports: 'Our team unloaded the trucks with the local volunteers. We all worked as a team with duties allocated. Pastors from the Church of Pakistan and St Mary’s school principal helped us check the identification of the affected people against the registered list.'
The local Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Mr Javed Prince visited the centre. Captain Daniel says the MPA and his team were 'pleased to see the distribution and gave appreciation to The Salvation Army'. They also made arrangements to ensure the Salvation Army team's ongoing safety.
The distribution had to finish earlier than planned because of heavy rain but the rest of the 200 packages should be given out today (11 August) and plans are in place to distribute packs to a further 300 families in Charsada on Saturday 14 August. This will depend on the necessary security arrangements being put in place.
The bedding materials are being sourced in Peshawar to keep delivery costs down and the kitchen utensil packages are being put together by staff and young people at The Salvation Army's Pakistan Territorial Headquarters in Lahore. The ongoing floods are causing power cuts and transport problems which mean that supplies of vital goods can be sporadic at best!
August 10 - Salvation Army Assessors in Pakistan Seek to Help People Who 'Have No Hope'
The Salvation Army in Pakistan continues to put in place preparations for a large-scale response to the floods that have affected more than 14 million people.
Andrew Lee, Chief Accountant for The Salvation Army in Pakistan, is a member of the assessment team that is looking to see where The Salvation Army's help is most urgently needed.
He writes that one of the first places the team went to was a relief camp at St Mary’s school in Risalapur. About 120 families are living in the shelter that has been set up in the school, predominantly Christians but also including Muslims and Hindus. Most have come from Syce Mandi where the houses were totally destroyed.
'I saw a lot of sad and depressed faces,' he says. 'Talking to some of the people there is no sense of hope at all. I felt desolate myself and, feeling the need to do something, we came back later with a box of milk powder (there is a shortage of some food items) and sweets, which seemed to cheer people up. It’s a token gesture, I know, but for me it was worth it seeing their faces brighten for a little bit.
'The next stop was a visit to another school housing about 30 families in Nowshera. Here we met the OM medical organisation that has been going to various relief camps with medicines and vaccinations. It is great to see the various organisations contributing to help the millions of people affected.
'While the heavy rains continued I talked to three widows with quite a few children living in one of the classrooms. More sadness and hopelessness was being expressed by them. Because they do not have husbands to earn a living and having lost all their possessions, there is little chance of rebuilding their lives without assistance.
'We headed into Charsadda, where refugees had pitched tents along the roads. Trucks carrying flat bread (chapattis) were being mobbed and people started fighting to get closer (cars were also mobbed when they stopped to help). Going into the main town, we were guided through the back streets toward the river bank and shown a few damaged houses.'
The team then headed towards the river, where the worst of the flooding had taken place. Andrew says: 'At times the mud was so thick that our boots were stuck. As I walked along the streets, residents still living in their badly damaged homes were surprised to see me. During translated conversations with the locals, it seems that no officials or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had come this way in the past nine days. I was the first to visit them and again I felt sad that I could not at this time give any assistance except by being there.
'A father was carrying two children through the knee high water and his daughter let slip one of her shoes. As it floated, I managed to retrieve it and put it back on. A small random act of kindness put a smile on a few faces.
'Coming within about 30 metres of the river, we finally had to stop as the water level was rising again. As I made my way through flooded alleyways, houses were either collapsed or full of mud or badly damaged. One owner showed me his two-storey house, and told me the waters had reached the second floor. His family sat on the edge of the roofing for about two days until the waters receded, fearing that the house would collapse and they would be thrown into the street. All their possessions were damaged by mud and water.
'I feel sad that the flood has affected 14 million people and I guess upset that I can’t be more helpful. Realistically we can’t help every single one of them. With what resources we have, we will try to help as much as possible in coordination with the government and the various NGOs. Although those I talk to have no hope, I think maybe that, with goodwill and neighbourly cooperation, Pakistanis can rebuild their lives.'
Captain Washington Daniel (leader of The Salvation Army's Islamabad Division) adds: 'We met with the Bishop of Peshawar's team and they welcomed us. They are very thankful for The Salvation Army's visit and our cooperation. In this meeting we discussed how we can help the people who have lost so much.
'They gave us a list of people in different areas in order to avoid duplication in the distribution of assistance. I said that The Salvation Army will attempt to provide utensils (pots, pans, dishes), quilts, pillows, foam mattresses and gas cylinder burners. We have identified 3,000 families in need of assistance from the list we were given.'
The captain also met with a government representative, who offered his support.
Previous News
Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Commander Major Lucien Lamartiniere (left) speaks with Disaster Services Director Bob Poff (right).
January 2010 - Haiti earthquake disaster response
In the aftermath of a devastating magnitude-7 earthquake that shook the country of Haiti recently, all but destroying the city of Port au Prince, The Salvation Army is doing all it can to assist locals who have been affected.
Salvation Army personnel are active on the ground in Haiti with staff and volunteers providing shelter, meals, clean water and other assistance as needed.
The Salvation Army in Australia has launched a Haiti Earthquake Appeal and you can donate online by clicking the link below. 100% of all donations will be going directly to fund The Salvation Army work being carried out in Haiti.
Here are some key downloads and links:
- Latest media release
- Information bulletin at 14 Jan 2010 - The Salvation Army response
- Fact sheet - The Salvation Army in Haiti
- Donate to The Salvation Army Haiti Earthquake Appeal
- Our Haiti updates page on Facebook
For more information and ongoing updates, here are some useful links:
- The Salvation Army Haiti website
- The Salvation Army Caribbean Territory (includes Haiti)
- The Salvation Army Canada (including video updates)
- The Salvation Army USA
- The Salvation Army International Headquarters
View video interviews:
- Interview with Bob Poff, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Director, Haiti
- Interview with Major Busroe, The Salvation Army USA
Listen to audio interviews:
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