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Pakistan
Floods Appeal

Pakistan
Floods Appeal

Reporting back

Stories of courage and resilience feature on this aid truck that served as a mobile clinic and helped save lives during the devastating floods last year.

Join the journey to find out how your donations have made a life-changing difference to communities in Pakistan.

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In this section

  • AYRA'S HEALTHCARE
  • MAULA DINNO'S FARM
  • ARSLAN'S TENT SCHOOL
  • LAKSHMI'S WATER PUMP

Trucks in Pakistan are elaborately decorated to celebrate local culture - people, places, events and stories. Trucks are also vehicles of aid delivery - such as this one that served as a mobile health clinic funded by DEC charity CAFOD as part of the Pakistan Floods Appeal response.

Artist Ali Salman drives the painted aid truck

Stories of courage & resilience

watch the video

Pakistani truck artist Ali Salman Anchan drives the painted aid truck in villages that were previously submerged in Sindh, Pakistan. Photo: Khaula Jamil/DEC

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Watch Truck art stories - DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal on YouTube.

The DEC worked with local Pakistani truck artist Ali Salman Anchan and his team to tell the stories of flood survivors supported by donations to the DEC appeal, recognising their courage and resilience in the face of the disaster - and the ongoing challenges they face.

The truck is still providing mobile healthcare in villages that were submerged last year, bringing moments of joy to communities as they work to rebuild their lives.

Ayra smiling and playing on a swing
Ayra smiling and playing on a swing

AYRA'S STORY

Ten-year-old Ayra fell seriously ill with malaria during last year’s devastating floods that washed away the family’s home.

With roads and medical facilities damaged in the disaster, access to healthcare was even harder than before. Meanwhile, dirty water and more mosquitoes left people in need of urgent medical treatment.

DEC charity CAFOD’s local partner were providing mobile health services in the area, thanks to donations to the DEC appeal. Ayra’s mother Sultana was able to get free life-saving treatment for her daughter.

"The doctors at CAFOD’s clinic saved my daughter’s life," - Sultana, Ayra's mother.

Ayra and her mother Sultana with the aid truck that has her story painted on

Ayra and her mother Sultana are happy to see their story painted on a mobile health truck when it revisited their village in Sindh. Photo: Khaula Jamil/DEC

In Sultana's words:

"I had to carry her in my arms to the mobile clinic. She was not conscious. I feared for her life.

The water was as high as my knees. We were afraid to sleep at night, scared we might drown. We just wanted to keep our children safe. We did not even have money to buy milk. The neighbours gave us shelter.

The doctor at the clinic prescribed medication and Ayra slowly became better and recovered her strength. The doctors at CAFOD’s clinic saved my daughter’s life.

Ayra often comes home from school complaining of a headache and aches in her legs. Before, she was very active. The doctors say she has iron deficiency. We spend our money on our children’s education and that means we often have to forego what we would spend on meals.

We are worried about what will happen this year if the floods take place again. We want to rebuild our home as right now we are living without a solid roof over our heads, sleeping on charpoys in the open.”

Watch Ayra's video
Maula Dinno smiling with his family
Maula Dinno smiling with his family

MAULA DINNO'S STORY

The floods submerged fields, washed away crops and killed livestock, leaving people who relied on the land without food or an income.

Maula Dinno, a farmer from Sindh province, lost his food stocks, crops and animals in the floods.

Thanks to donations to the appeal, DEC charity Concern Worldwide's local partner helped him start regrowing crops using new climate-smart techniques.

"They have given us new eyes with which to see," - Maula Dinno, farmer from Sindh.

Maula Dinno being painted planting crops in the farm

Maula Dinno's image is painted on the aid truck, in which he is sprinkling seeds in a field that was once barren but now has crops after receiving training and support from Concern Worldwide. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

In Maula Dinno's words:

“It became impossible to earn a living after the rains. We came back to an utterly devastated place. There was no cultivable land as it was all inundated and we could not grow any crops for the season. Some days we would eat just one meal, and often we could not even manage that. 

They [Concern Worldwide] brought fertiliser and seeds, and set up a farmer school for men and women so we could learn about better techniques and have a bountiful harvest. They taught us so much. They supported us when we could not stand on our own.

I am so glad that I am ahead of the crises. Yesterday I carried mountains of troubles and trials on me, but now I am relieved. I can feel my emotions releasing for the happiness I feel with the hope that my life will improve."

Watch Maula Dinno's video
Arslan being painted on the aid truck

ARSLAN'S STORY

The floods destroyed schools and threatened to disrupt education for children like Arslan, who thought he would have to give up on his career dreams.

DEC charity Save the Children's local partner set up a tent school with washrooms and a space for after-school activities like cricket. They also provided school bags and psychological first aid.

The support has helped children like Arslan feel hopeful again.

"I felt like my dream of becoming a police officer was still possible, - Arslan, aged 11.

Arslan playing cricket in a safe play space

Arslan has a safe space to play as well as learn, thanks to the tent school and child-friendly spaces set up by Save The Children in Sindh, Pakistan. Photo: Khaula Jamil/DEC

In Arslan's words:

“When the rains came our house collapsed. Our school was also damaged and we were really worried that we would not be able to continue our education. But after the rains, the team came and set up this tent for our school. They gave us books and supplies. They set up a place where we could play games like football and cricket.

They also built washrooms. They set up an area with clean running water. They gave us two bags – one was a school bag, the other with hygiene items. Our teachers taught us how to wash our hands properly, how to clean our teeth and bathe.

I remember my first day at the tent school. I was so happy, I felt like my dream of becoming a police officer was still possible. I thought I would lose that dream and have to do manual labour to earn a living like most people in the village. 

Now we are able to study with ease. I want to continue my education after the tent school, go to high school and then to college.”

Watch Arslan's video
Lakshmi smiling with the solar panel water supply
Lakshmi smiling with the solar panel water supply

LAKSHMI'S STORY

When Lakshmi’s family returned to where their mud-built home once stood, they only managed to salvage a few belongings.

DEC charity International Rescue Committee's local partner established village committees to help families work together and start rebuilding their lives.

Access to clean water and latrines was a priority, and Lakshmi’s village now has a solar powered water pump as well as a private latrine.

“Our girls will not have to deal with the same situations that we had to,” - Lakshmi, mother of seven.

Lakshmi speaks up at a village committee session

Laskhmi speaks at a village committee session set up by IRC, where local residents discuss their needs and find solutions by working together. Photo: Khaula Jamil/DEC

In Lakshmi's words:

“Everyone was so devastated by loss that the distinctions between us were erased. Whether you were Hindu or Muslim, it didn’t matter. We had to come together as a community to take care of ourselves.

IRC encouraged us to form a tanzeem (village committee) to decide how to deal with future catastrophes or issues. They helped us with installing a bathroom and gave us cash grants.

Previously, we would walk around one kilometre to get water which was unclean and would make us unwell. When we had to use the bathroom, even if you had an upset stomach, you had to find a space in the fields to relieve yourself. We would wash the cloth that we used for menstruation in any private space we could find.

Now the hand pump is in our village. We also have our own latrine in the village. It is a clean and private space. Our girls will not have to deal with the same situations that we had to, and we are grateful for that.”

Watch Lakshmi's video
Artists work on painting the aid truck with appeal logo on the front

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE DEC PAKISTAN FLOODS APPEAL

Paints and brushes being cleaned up and stored after the completion of the project The truck features the stories of real people that were helped by DEC charities, in traditional Pakistani truck art style.

Paints and brushes are cleaned after the truck painting project is complete. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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View of the truck painted in Pakistani truck art style

A side view of the truck that features Sultana with her daugher Ayra, and farmer Maula Dinno, with images and quotes giving insights to their stories. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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Painted truck being used as a mobile health clinic

Children at the mobile health clinic run by CAFOD's local partner in Sindh, where the now-painted truck continues to deliver free healthcare to flood-affected communities. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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Image of flood survivors in a boat painted on the aid truck

A close-up of one of the images painted on the truck by the Phool Patti team, inspired by real life stories where survivors used boats to get to safety. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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Reflection of the painted truck in water

Reflection of the painted truck in water as it traverses the area that was fully submerged during the devastating floods in 2022. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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The Phool Patti Initiative artists with the painted truck

Ali Salman Anchan (centre) and some of the Phool Patti team rest after painting the CAFOD aid truck in Karachi. Photo: Zoral Khurram Naik/DEC

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Pakistani painted trucks

The painted CAFOD aid truck amongst other trucks in Sindh, all elaborately painted to reflect the local culture. Photo: Khaula Jamil/DEC

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© Disasters Emergency Committee 2025. Registered Charity No. 1062638. Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 3356526.

© Disasters Emergency Committee 2025. Registered Charity No. 1062638. Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 3356526.