Pakistan, already reeling from a financial and a political crisis, has been hit hard by the annual monsoon season. It turned severely violent for most of the country this year, with Sindh and Balochistan witnessing a 784% and 496% increase in the monsoon deluge respectively. Cities and villages in Sindh and Balochistan have been swept away, seemingly permanently altering the country’s maps.

Rojhan, Pakistan before and after flooding. Photo Courtesy of Washington Post.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, as of Sep. 15, more than 1.8 million houses have been destroyed, forcing countless on the streets. With one-third of the country under floods, affecting more than 33 million people — one in 7 people — and killing more than 1500 people, it is an unprecedented crisis in the history of the country. On Aug. 25, the government of Pakistan officially declared it a national emergency.

Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change, commented on the severity of the situation as rescue operations and emergency workers struggle to reach those affected: “It's all one big ocean, there's no dry land to pump the water out”. To that end, the Sindh provincial government has also recorded 588 malaria cases with another 10,604 suspected, along with 17,977 cases of diarrhea and 20,064 of skin disease as waterborne diseases further inundate the victims.

To add to the calamity, nearly all of the country’s agricultural crops and fields have been either severely damaged or completely washed away, with thousands of livestock killed, prompting an inevitable food crisis. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres estimated at least 30 billion USD of reconstruction costs and economic damage, equivalent to about 10 percent of the country’s GDP.

Private organizations and governments from all over the world have announced support funds and food assistance. The United Arab Emirates has begun operating an air bridge to transport humanitarian aid. On Sept. 1, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif [tweeted] (https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1565186688107806720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1565186692600012801%7Ctwgr%5Ea2ea28aa597375b62eb83e8ec48a3f1afd9d98a3%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaaenglish.tv%2Fnews%2F40015926), “Brotherly UAE has started delivering the first tranche of relief good worth $50 million for the flood victims in Pakistan… We will forever be indebted to our brothers & sisters who have stood by us in this challenge.” Food delivery apps like Deliveroo have also launched donation drives for the affected, easing humanitarian assistance.

If you would like to donate and help, here is a list of licensed charities that you can donate to from the UAE:

The Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund in Pakistan. Overseas donors can donate to this fund through wire transfers into the fund account.

The Emirates Red Crescent organization in the UAE.

The Pakistan Association Dubai has a fundraiser, in collaboration with Dar Al Ber Society and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities to donate for flood relief efforts.

The Citizen’s Foundation Pakistan is another licensed organization you can donate to for flood relief efforts.