Rescue worker’s flood aid cash plea- Evening Times (Glasgow)published on 11th August, 2010 |
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks/rescue-worker-s-flood-aid-cash-plea-1.1047300
A Glasgow aid worker re-lived his experience of the floods devastating Pakistan.
Following his return Habib Malik from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) gave a first hand account of starving families who have been left with nothing because of the floods.
He travelled to the Nowshera region in north-west Pakistan last Monday to help relief efforts.
The charity worker, who moved to Glasgow from Pakistan when he was 18, spoke of the effects of the contaminated water in the communities.
He said: “Every child I saw was covered in a nasty rash and they were scratching.
“Literally these skin spots covered their whole bodies because of the contaminated water.”
“It was so hard to see people suffering like this.
“Seeing children in pain, starving and wet, really got to me.”
The aid worker was speaking at an event organised to mark the beginning of the Muslim festival of Ramadan, which starts tomorrow.
Mr Malik, who is manager of the DEC agency, Islamic Relief in Scotland added that the scenes were “heartbreaking”.
He said: “Children and babies are going hungry.
“I saw a woman and her baby under a tree and the mother was letting her baby suck her thumb to try and comfort the youngster.
“It was heartbreaking to see the men go back to their homes to see if they could salvage some clothing or valuables.
“Some came back with a few things, others came back with nothing. It is unimaginable.”
The aid worker said he hopes to go back soon.
He said: “What we want to make sure is that the people of Pakistan have water, shelter, medical supplies and food.
“When Ramadan begins those caught in the floods will be fasting on empty stomachs but they will fast whether there is food or not.”
Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, urged Glaswegians to keep donating to the Disasters Emergency Relief Fund.
She said: “This is the biggest disaster Pakistan has faced in 80 years.
“We need to get aid to the people and it is going through and it is making a difference. It is not something that happened and is now over, it is happening now and is unavoidable.”
Glasgow Central MP Anas Sarwar, added his voice to the appeal.
Mr Sarwar said: “My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and those who are suffering as a result of the floods.
“I urge everyone to help in any way they can.
It is now estimated that 16 million people have been hit by the flooding in Pakistan and an estimated 16,000 are dead.
Other agencies involved in the DEC in Scotland include British Red Cross and Save the Children.
For more information or to make a donation log on to at www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900.
0 comments10 Aug 2010
A Glasgow aid worker re-lived his experience of the floods devastating Pakistan.
Following his return Habib Malik from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) gave a first hand account of starving families who have been left with nothing because of the floods.
He travelled to the Nowshera region in north-west Pakistan last Monday to help relief efforts.
The charity worker, who moved to Glasgow from Pakistan when he was 18, spoke of the effects of the contaminated water in the communities.
He said: “Every child I saw was covered in a nasty rash and they were scratching.
“Literally these skin spots covered their whole bodies because of the contaminated water.”
“It was so hard to see people suffering like this.
“Seeing children in pain, starving and wet, really got to me.”
The aid worker was speaking at an event organised to mark the beginning of the Muslim festival of Ramadan, which starts tomorrow.
Mr Malik, who is manager of the DEC agency, Islamic Relief in Scotland added that the scenes were “heartbreaking”.
He said: “Children and babies are going hungry.
“I saw a woman and her baby under a tree and the mother was letting her baby suck her thumb to try and comfort the youngster.
“It was heartbreaking to see the men go back to their homes to see if they could salvage some clothing or valuables.
“Some came back with a few things, others came back with nothing. It is unimaginable.”
The aid worker said he hopes to go back soon.
He said: “What we want to make sure is that the people of Pakistan have water, shelter, medical supplies and food.
“When Ramadan begins those caught in the floods will be fasting on empty stomachs but they will fast whether there is food or not.”
Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, urged Glaswegians to keep donating to the Disasters Emergency Relief Fund.
She said: “This is the biggest disaster Pakistan has faced in 80 years.
“We need to get aid to the people and it is going through and it is making a difference. It is not something that happened and is now over, it is happening now and is unavoidable.”
Glasgow Central MP Anas Sarwar, added his voice to the appeal.
Mr Sarwar said: “My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and those who are suffering as a result of the floods.
“I urge everyone to help in any way they can.
It is now estimated that 16 million people have been hit by the flooding in Pakistan and an estimated 16,000 are dead.
Other agencies involved in the DEC in Scotland include British Red Cross and Save the Children.
For more information or to make a donation log on to at www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900.