Flood Relief

Last year we saw floods in Pakistan on an unprecedented scale. The damage to farmland and residences was so extensive and widespread, the entire world was stunned. The UN called it the largest natural disaster in modern history. It was a few days into the floods that Zimmedar Shehri was approached, not once, but many times, to do something for the flood affectees. We had never done something of this sort before, but felt that as responsible citizens and torchbearers of civil society we must act.

How were we to act?
We needed money first. We needed supplies.
We decided to go door to door. In the hot and humid summer of Lahore, during the month of Ramadhan, a dedicated group of around 50 volunteers decided to go around the streets of Lahore knocking on every door asking for donations in cash and kind. Once we started putting up notices on our facebook group, the response was unbelievable. We were recieving donations from all around Pakistan and even abroad! We quickly set about to purchasing supplies. In co-ordination with other groups and news that we were recieving online and through the media we bought the most essential food and sanitary supplies in large quantities, and set about packing them.
In the garden of our head office we erected a tent and had over 100 volunteers packing. We packed day and night, in rain and in the sun, and here we must thank all the volunteers who worked tirelessly for this cause.
Our first trip was to the beautiful valley of Swat. We co-ordinated with the 105th Brigade of the Pakistan Army and they offered us residence and security there. We were taken to the Khwazakhel valley, Mingora and many other places to survey, and if satisfied, distribute our goods. We sent half our goods to Kalam by helicopters. Had there been a way to get to Kalam other than that, we would’ve jumped at the opportunity, but the floods had destroyed all roads to and from Kalam.
We spent nearly a week in Swat, and came back.

Our second trip was to district Muzaffargarh. Here, we co-ordinated again with the Army. We again took truckloads, and donated in the villages of Khangarh and 2 other locations. We were here for a total of three days, with residence at Multan.

We donated 2 tonnes of rice that we had recieved to the Air force. They took 2 of our volunteers along with them to District Rajanpur. They distributed here, and came back the same evening.