Monsoon floods ravaged large parts of Pakistan last month, overwhelming disaster management efforts. But non-profits and dozens of entrepreneurs, old and young, stepped in as their country faced its worst disaster in decades.
There’s a huge need for everything – from tents to blankets, from mosquito nets to water purification, from food to hygiene kits, and from anti-malarial medicines to basic fever medication. “Millions and millions of people have no access to water, shelter and food. We have seen children who are malnourished and suffering from skin diseases, diarrhea, everything you can imagine,” Abdullah Fadil, the Pakistan representative for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said.
Fadil said more resources are needed, such as medicines and therapeutic food for children and lactating and pregnant mothers, 680,000 of whom are among the flood-affected 33 million people. “We need the world to really pay attention to the dire needs of children and mothers of Pakistan. I hope the world will pay attention to this calamity caused by climate change,” he said.. The deluge has damaged or destroyed more than 1.5 million homes. For weeks, people had to endure pouring rain and scorching sun as they had no shelter. Thousands of Pakistanis have donated tents and tarps so people can find some respite.
