Assalaam
u Alykum and Ramadan Mubarak,
Watching a disaster
of such a magnitude as the recent floods in Pakistan on TV is
one thing, but witnessing it in reality is quite a different
experience. I have just returned after an extensive visit of
Pakistan's worst flood affected areas and can share with you
hundreds of sad stories, but in short, "our brothers and sisters
need your immediate help as quickly as possible".
I have witnessed
monsoon rains; constantly pouring rain creating the worst floods
in the history of Pakistan. The victims of these floods are
now homeless, jobless and vulnerable to all kinds of disease.
I saw Helping Hand for Relief and Development’s teams helping
people on both sides of the river banks but they need your help
to continue and expand their operations in all areas.
I was able to
meet some of the victims, the hard working Pakistanis, who were
doing just fine few days ago but now they are on streets; homeless
and jobless but NOT hopeless. They want to start all over again
but just need a little help from their fellow citizens like
you.
Helping Hand has
incurred direct losses to this devastating flood:
(i) One of our
employees working in Dir Lower as Ambulance Driver passed away
and embraced Shahadat after completing day relief activities
and returning to his family. This sad incident happened while
he was crossing a major flood stream on a truck, Total 70 people
died in that accident. Br.Ibad ur Rehman had joined HHRD on
20th July 2010 .He was a young man of age 28.
(ii) Our Skill
Development Center (SDC) for women in Madain (Swat) has been
totally destroyed. All sewing machines and other equipment have
been washed away by the floods.
(iii) Our Mother
Child Health Center (MCHC) in Utra Kalan (Mianwali) has been
flooded with high waters. The medical staff is running the medical
relief camps now in open camps.
I have high hope
that Pakistan will recover and rebuild, Insha’Allah, soon. But
remain to see that who among us will help them in this struggle
for survival. I personally encourage every one of you to help
the victims of these floods as much as possible during the blessed
days of Ramadan. Your reward will be multiple folds as promised
by the Allah (swt).
Sincerely,
Farrukh
Raza
President
HHRD
