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Pakistan is currently witnessing the biggest natural calamity of its history in the form of torrential rains and floods that have wrought havoc in all provinces of Pakistan. The scale and extent of destruction caused by the floods is just unfolding and already there are indications that this disaster is larger in scale and impact than the Asian Tsunami of 2004, the devastating earthquake in Azad Jammu and Kashmir of 2005 and the Haiti earthquake combined.
The devastating floods have severely affected more than one-tenth of the entire population of Pakistan with scores of people dead and injured. Million of houses have been destroyed. Millions of people are living in make-shift camps where there is a constant danger of outbreak of water-borne and communicable diseases. The flood has caused a wide-spread destruction of physical infrastructure including roads, bridges, electricity transmission lines, telecommunication networks, water and sanitation facilities, educational institutions and health facilities. It is pre-mature to assess the exact scale of the destruction at this point in time, but it is quite clear that Pakistan’s economy will suffer billions of dollars both in terms of loss of property and infrastructure as well as loss of productivity through the destruction of irrigation system and millions of acres of farmland.
The Government of Pakistan has mobilized all available resources and is making all possible efforts for the rescue and relief of the millions who have been affected by these floods. The relief and rescue operations are being coordinated by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) which is based in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad. However, due to the sheer scale of the disaster, there is a need for an urgent response from the international community to supplement the efforts of the Government of Pakistan. A disaster of this scale requires persistent and long-term commitment from the international community.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has established a special fund titled “Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2010” in order to receive any donations for the victims of the floods. This fund has been established in all Embassies/Missions of Pakistan abroad.
In order to provide urgent assistance to millions of the people desperately in need of help, we urge the international community and expatriate Pakistani community to extend their help to the victims of this natural disaster.
The relief and disaster management authorities in Pakistan have requested that the support should preferably be in the form of cash donations which can be given in any of the following accounts:
Local Currency Account (Rupees)
Account No. 000294-2
Branch Code. 1732
Branch Name. National Bank of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat Branch, Islamabad – Pakistan
Foreign Currencies Account (US Dollar)
Account No. 9901526
Branch Code 0341
Branch Name National Bank of Pakistan, Main Branch, Islamabad – Pakistan
Consul General of Pakistan, New York
Account No- 55302089
Branch Name: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Wall Street Branch, NY 10005
LIST OF REQUIRED ITEMS FROM DONORS:
In case, there are donors who are interested in providing in-kind assistance, it may be provided as per the following list:
a. |
Dried milk for children and families |
b. |
Dates |
c. |
High nutrition biscuits |
d. |
Food packets consisting of tea, sugar, powdered milk, vegetable oil, pulses and spices |
e. |
Bottled water |
a. |
Boats |
b. |
Tents |
c. |
Generators |
d. |
Water filtration plant |
e. |
Dewatering pumps |
f. |
Tarpaulin |
g. |
Cooking utensils |
h. |
Footwear |
i. |
Mosquito nets |
j. |
Blankets |
k. |
Bed Sheets |
l. |
Floor mattresses |
a. |
Anti-typhoid, anti-malaria, anti-tetanus, anti- diahorrea, anti-snake venom |
a. |
Soaps |
b. |
Hand Towerls |
c. |
tooth-paste, tooth brushes |
d. |
Female sanitary pads |
e. |
Diapers for minors |
f. |
Washing powder/soap |
g. |
Floor mattresses |
a. |
ORS |
b. |
Mosquito repellent |
c. |
prickly heat powder |
d. |
Anti-rash creams for children |
e. |
Candles/match-boxes |
f. |
Torches and batteries |
g. |
Water purification tablets and units |
h. |
shoes |
The donors are requested that the relief items should not be "used items". Special care shold be ataken that the food items are "Hilal", without any pork contents. The medicines should have a sufficiently long expiry date.
The list of these required items is regulary updated on the website of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) http://www.ndma.gov.pk
It may kindly be noted that all donors will have to make arrangements for the transport of the relief items own their own. The relief items should be marked for the consignee in the transportation documents to:
Mr. Hassan Zulifiqar,
Director, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
Prime Minister Secretariat, Islamabad.
Phone: + 92-51- 9207066
Fax: + 92-51- 9202407
Cell: +92- 0301-5262659
E-mail: hz@ndma.gov.pk
In case space is available, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will carry relief goods to Pakistan without charge in the spare belly spaces of their aircrafts. The donors are informed that no duties/taxes will be levied on the relief goods dispatched in the name of NDMA. Prior clearance of flights carrying relief goods, including manifests of relief goods should be processed in good time through the respective Embassies. The transportation of relief goods from Islamabad to the flood affected areas in Pakistan will be facilitated and coordinated by NDMA.
No Objection Certificate for the import of relief items will be issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Template NOC is available at the NDMA website http://www.ndma.gov.pk under the title “books and publication”.
All visa requests relating to relief assistance will be processed expeditiously by the respective Embassies/Consulates of Pakistan in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad.
For futher information , kindly visit http://www.ndma.gov.pk