A BENAZIR DAUGHTER . . .
Chairperson, Save the Flood and Disaster Victims Organisation
Since the birth of Pakistan, crisis has followed crisis in rapid succession. We were just starting to recover from the floods of 2010, when rains again have wrecked havoc in Sindh.
The purpose of this organization is to empower the people by helping them recover from the disastrous situations and enabling them to get back on their feet. It is our foremost national duty to continuously work together in the wake of the devastation that surrounds the flood victims of Pakistan, as well as to quickly gather resources that would benefit the victims in this hour of need.
Our mission as an NGO is to assertively network to ensure fundraising for victims, pulling them out of disastrous situations and making their lives better. Our main focus will be to play a part in rebuilding Pakistan, which can only be done with your help.
We, the people of Pakistan and those around the world must stand united and aim to provide the victims with hope and strength through this traumatic time. According to the United Nations, an estimated 20 million civilians were affected by the floods that plagued Pakistan in 2010. With over 160,000 square feet (the widespread damage which covers an equivalent size to the european country of Italy) affected by the floods, this in turn means that the combined total of the floods exceeded those affected by the 2004 Indian tsunami, 2005 Kashmir /Nothern Areas Earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
In addition to these losses, the recent rains have also caused great loss. According to the NDMA, a total of 226 people have died, with 1.2 million houses damaged and an a total of area of 4.5 million acres affected so far.
This situation means your donations have become much more important and we must accelerate our efforts in making and collecting donations to provide immediate relief to the affected people. Aid agencies have already warned that outbreak of diseases pose grave new threats to the affected population.
Shelter and clean drinking water are urgently required to help lessen the spread of water borne diseases. As there is lack of clean drinking water and sanitation we can only urge you to bring forward your contributions.
We urge you to “Please DONATE generously”. The society after a disaster of this scale needs active social mobility and regeneration. In order to cope with this disaster, we need economic and social development at a magnitude never experienced before. It must be mentioned here that our society is already fighting serious political, religious and economic wars and this natural disaster has brought us all right in the middle of a complex social war zone.
The crisis has pushed our people decades back and it would certainly require strong, committed, focused and prompt efforts to help them. The plan can neither be short term nor long term. It has to be a perfect and delicate combination of both driven by a strong political will and a deep social realization. This is about our very existence and the very structure of the society that we are a part of.
Transparency will be given primary importance in all areas of our operations and administration. As the head of the ‘Save the Flood and Disaster Victims Organization’, it will be my responsibility to promote transparency as a core value. As a nation we have suffered many agonies and tragedies; earthquakes, blasts and mayhem. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is the most inspiring figure in my life. She was larger than life. I always thought of a tribute which could do some justice to her grand abilities. The very core aim of this NGO is inspired from her passion that was the true emancipation of the people of Pakistan. So I ask in her name for help. Let us come together and rebuild Pakistan. Let's rebuild it in an even better way. Let's turn this grave tragedy into an opportunity. We have to rebuild a new bright and shining Pakistani society, to which our commitment is total and unending. By the grace of Allah we will undertake this massive operation and will demand the very best from each and every one of us.
Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari
