DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal raises £25m in two weeks, but rains return to worst-hit areas

The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Pakistan Floods Appeal has raised £25 million in just two weeks to assist the millions of people hit by the immense flooding. The total includes £5 million matched by the UK Government through the Aid Match scheme. 

However, the need is still great as the rains continue in the worst hit areas such as Sindh province. Around 1.7 million homes have been destroyed or badly damaged by the flooding, leaving many homeless and exposed to the elements. 

There is also a high risk from diseases spreading such as cholera, malaria and typhoid while millions have been left without access to health care and medical treatment. The WHO says that 900 health facilities have been badly damaged. 

A Dengue fever outbreak is growing and causing concern in Karachi in Sindh province and in refugee villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Forty-five districts are reporting increased cases of acute watery diarrhoea.   

Now fears are growing of renewed flooding as continuing rains threaten to cause more damage, adding to the need for help. 

Around 33 million people are affected, approximately 16 million of whom are children. At least 1,400 people have been killed and 12,700 injured. Six million people need humanitarian assistance. Large areas of agricultural land have been submerged and 900,000 livestock have been lost, leading to fears of a food crisis in the coming months. 

11 of the DEC’s 15 charities are working directly or through local partners to help save lives, providing food, temporary shelter, medical aid, clean water and sanitation to prevent the spread of diseases. 

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:     

“The DEC is deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our deepest sympathies are with the whole Royal Family. Her Majesty’s generous support to DEC appeals over many years has helped people around the world in their hour of greatest need. We were honoured to have received her support to so many of our appeals. 

“At this time of national mourning, especially, we are so grateful to everyone across all four nations of the UK who have donated to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal. This support is already helping people caught up in a really desperate situation due to the unprecedented flooding. 

“This incredible outpouring of support has enabled DEC charities to provide essential aid and to relieve some of the suffering faced by millions of people in Pakistan right now.    

“But the scale of this devastation means we need to do much more if we are to protect the many men, women and children facing weeks and months of hunger and disease and whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed. 

“We are therefore asking those who can afford to help to donate what they can and to encourage others to consider supporting the appeal – these funds are literally a lifeline for some of the world’s most vulnerable people at a time of dire need.”  

Islamic Relief is one DEC charity that has already been distributing aid in a camp in Sindh province including food packages to 45 families and hygiene and household kits to 293 families.  Many similar operations are happening across affected provinces. 

Aqsa*, 57, who has four children, received a hygiene kit including toothpaste, towels, female sanitary towels and jerry cans. She told how her home collapsed and the two goats she had recently bought were killed in the flooding. An image of Aqsa is available here. 

Aqsa* said: 
 
"I have four children – two sons and two daughters. Our family home collapsed due to the floods. There is nothing left of our belongings – we are poor people and lost everything. 
 
"I had purchased two goats, which unfortunately died due to the floods. It is difficult to support the family. We would be willing to work if we had access to jobs. If I had money, I would buy medicine, as the children are sick. I am sick too, with a fever and a cough, but I have no money, so I cannot visit a doctor.   
 
"My son does not have a job, and the fields are also damaged. There is nothing left."  

Stay up to date with developments in Pakistan, the emergency response, and the fundraising efforts with the DEC by following us on Twitter or on Facebook.  

*Name changed to protect identity. 

ENDS  

Notes to editors:   

Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours).    

A collection of recent images and footage is available here.  

Interview requests: please contact: bguiton@dec.org.uk    

About the DEC: The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.       

Eleven of the DEC’s 15 member charities are confirmed to be responding either directly or through trusted local partners and will receive funds from this appeal. The 11 members responding so far are Action Against Hunger, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK and Tearfund.  

The UK government matched, pound for pound, the first £5 million of public donations to the DEC Pakistan Appeal through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s UK Aid Match scheme. This was part of a £16.5m package of support to provide immediate help to people living in the most hard hit areas.  
 
Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gives the British public the opportunity to have a say in how the UK aid budget is spent whilst boosting the impact of the very best British charities to change and save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. UK government match funding will double British public’s own donations to the DEC appeal up to £5 million and will ensure that DEC member charities working on the ground can reach even more people in need.  
 
UK Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently to support people affected by the conflict in Ukraine and to provide life-saving humanitarian aid to people in desperate need in Afghanistan.  
 
Through UK Aid Match, FCDO gives the British public the opportunity to decide how the UK aid budget is spent and support people in desperate need by matching their donations pound-for-pound. 

Any queries about UK Aid Match should be directed to the FCDO news desk on 020 7008 3100 or newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk.  

How to donate:        

• Online: dec.org.uk   
• Phone: 0330 678 1000. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply  
• SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70000. Texts cost £10 plus the standard network charge and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk.  
• Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office or send a cheque by post to DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.