Islamic Relief plans massive scale up of aid in response to ‘biggest disaster in Pakistan’s history’

Islamic Relief is significantly scaling up its response in Pakistan to ensure long-term support for half a million people affected by the devastating impact of unprecedented floods on infrastructure, food security and livelihoods – a situation described by the charity’s CEO as the biggest disaster in the country’s history.

Islamic Relief has so far raised £6.5 million ($7.5m) to provide urgent life-saving aid to those affected by the floods, but the enormity of the crisis means that much more is needed. The charity is now aiming to boost its funding to £30 million ($34.5m) to help rebuild communities and provide ongoing support for 500,000 people across Balochistan, KPK, Sindh and Punjab.

So far Islamic Relief has helped more than 52,000 people with emergency aid including food, tents, drinking water, hygiene kits and cash grants. Rescue teams trained by Islamic Relief have also evacuated and rescued more than 1,000 people from rising water.

The charity’s new and expanded response plan for the next year will see it focus on ensuring that people are safe from further harm and can live in dignity by rebuilding infrastructure and livelihoods. Islamic Relief Pakistan’s team will work closely with national and local government to:

Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, is just back from Pakistan where he visited affected communities in KPK and met with senior officials including the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. He says:

“This is the biggest disaster in Pakistan’s history and the impact will be felt for years to come. The livelihoods of entire communities have been completely wiped out, and so many families have lost everything they owned. Islamic Relief has worked in Pakistan for many years, and we will be there for many more years to come, standing by communities in their time of need.

“This is a climate catastrophe in which melting glaciers and unprecedented monsoon rains have combined to devastate communities as never before. As well as meeting people’s immediate needs, it is vital that organisations like Islamic Relief support long-term recovery and rebuilding and speak out for climate justice until the biggest polluting countries reduce emissions which have such a destructive impact on vulnerable nations like Pakistan whose carbon footprint is relatively modest.

“Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our supporters around the world, we are already ensuring that tens of thousands of people have lifesaving food, water and shelter. We are determined to ensure that the support people need will not stop with our emergency response, and will continue with work to rebuild infrastructure and livelihoods and build a better future.”

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Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.