Disaster Relief

Pakistan Floods

 

A deadly monsoon season has caused much destruction across Pakistan, with over 800 fatalities and severe infrastructure damage.  Sudden cloudbursts dumping massive amounts of rain as well dam releases have triggered the worst flooding in the history of Punjab, and much of the rest of Pakistan as well.  Urban centers have also experienced severe flash flooding, leading to death, power outages, and widespread disruption.  There has been landslides in mountainous areas wiping out many villages. These events struck with little to no warning, overwhelming communities.

The level of destruction echoes the catastrophic floods of 2022 which were the worst in Pakistan’s history.  See Hidaya Foundation’s efforts during 2022 Floods here.

Hidaya Foundation is focusing our flood relief efforts in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, where we have a district office. In the severely affected areas of Taranda Muhammad Panah, particularly the villages of Murad Bheet and Muhammad Langah located along the Chenab River, flooding up to 5 kilometers inland has impacted nearly 60,000 people. The affected communities have been forced to leave their homes and relocate to safer, elevated areas until flood waters recede. As in most major disasters, the government alongside several NGOs have provided tents and meals during these crucial times, but as waters are starting to recede, so too will the help that the families are dependent on.  Strategically, Hidaya Foundation normally waits for these times to administer most of our disaster relief efforts, as families begin to go back to their destroyed homes and try to rebuild.

Hidaya has already shipped 22 containers of in-kind goods to Pakistan so far this year, with 4-6 more expected by year end in shaa Allah. Among these are 8 containers of purely winter clothes including jackets, coats, sweaters, etc, and 2 more are on the way. Each container can provide 6,500 families with 8+ articles of winter clothing including jackets, coats, sweaters, etc.  Winter clothes from these containers are being provided to the flood affected families.

Additionally food has been purchased and is ready for distribution. We have secured 2,000 tons of rice, 100 tons of chickpeas, and 100 tons of dry dates which is enough to feed over 20,000 families.

As flood waters recede and families come back to their homes, Hidaya is preparing packages for distribution in which each family will receive: 50kg rice, 5kg chickpeas, 5 kg dates, and package of winter clothing including 8+ jackets/coats, sweatshirts. Each package is costing about $35 – so for this phase of relief to 20,000 families Hidaya is distributing about $700,000 worth of supplies.

In later phases, there will be a great need for rebuilding homes, livestock restoration, agriculture assistance to farmers, and continued food ration support until crops are regrown.

Please donate Zakat and Sadaqah towards the disaster relief and ongoing assistance of the region.