– I think it’s terrible. I really just want to fly down there and help, says Samina Tagge to news. Samina Tagge is a board member of the non-profit organization Verdensengajerte Norwegian Pakistanis, which has launched a fundraising campaign. Photo: Privat More than 1,136 people have lost their lives in the floods in Pakistan and more than 33 million people have been affected. This year’s monsoon rains are the worst in living memory and have swept away homes, livestock and crops, roads and bridges. Collection In practice, it is difficult to contribute on the ground, but she is one of many Norwegian-Pakistani who are now collecting money for the flood victims. – When you experience that the country you were born in and grew up in is hit so hard, it hurts, says Tagge. She is on the board of the non-profit organization Verdensengajerte norskpakistanere (VNP), which has over five thousand members. A man carries a group of children safely across a flooded river in Jaffarabad district. Major traffic problems in Karachi as massive rainfall hit the city earlier this summer. This area of small shops in Nowshera was completely flooded over the weekend. Areas that are usually completely dry have now water on all sides. Life must still be lived even if the rain creates major obstacles. Traces of a street. The roads are barely passable. They started the collection yesterday morning and have so far received almost eight thousand kroner. The goal is initially NOK 25,000. During the last few days, a long series of such small donation campaigns have appeared. Many Norwegian-Pakistani say that they do not trust the current government in Pakistan and therefore do not want to pay their support via public measures. Giverglede VNP’s collection via Facebook is inspired by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had a large-scale TV campaign on Sunday, and where the money flooded in from all over the world. Khan was deposed after a motion of no confidence in March, but has many supporters in the Norwegian-Pakistani community. Many millions have been affected by floods in the worst monsoon rains in living memory. Photo: Zahid Hussain / AP The money VNP receives will also go through him. – Norwegian-Pakistani people in all countries have shown an enormous willingness to donate, but we are dependent on us getting equipment, tents, food, and the infrastructure has to go up again. I hope that in the long term you can also get involved, says Tagge. The flood victims in Pakistan lack most things, not least food and clean water. Photo: FIDA HUSSAIN / AFP Commitment Most people in the Norwegian-Pakistani community have roots in parts of the Punjab province that are not badly affected by floods, but the commitment is nevertheless great. – When someone calls for help, I can’t stand still. Then I have to contribute, says Shahid Jamil. Shahid Jamal is the chairman of SCOON, which usually supports disabled and polio-stricken children and the elderly. Money is now being collected for flood victims. He is chairman of the board of Special Children Organization Norway (SCOON), which usually helps polio-affected and disabled children in Pakistan. The last two weeks have been about supporting the flood victims. – We can’t just sit here and watch. We must help our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, says Jamil. SCOON collects money at Spleis. On Wednesday morning, they had received NOK 10,000, but have a goal of receiving NOK 50,000. Cold On Saturday, they will have several stands where people can hand in clothes, shoes and toys for the flood victims, and at the same time pay a little for the transport. Flood-stricken Pakistanis have to deal with huge bodies of water. Photo: Naveed Ali / AP – Now it will soon be cold, and people have no clothes. We will also contribute with other necessary dry goods, and sanitary napkins for women, explains Jamil. Pakistan is now referred to as a country that looks like many small seas. – My hometown is Rahim Yar Khan, in the very south of Punjab, and in the countryside here there is a crisis due to floods, says Nasir Gondal to news. Nasir Mahmood Gondal comes from the southern part of Punjab where the flood has hit the agricultural areas. Most of the Punjab region of Pakistan has escaped the flood. Photo: Nina Holtan He comes from the city and has no friends or family who are directly affected, but comrades have gone out into the field to help. Now Gondal has also started a fundraising campaign, but because there are many people who collect money in the Norwegian environment, it is currently going slowly. – I am not giving up. It is so sad and painful to see the situation. I wish I could go down and help them, but I have used up all my holiday days and have to help in other ways, says Gondal. Homeless flood victims face a cold winter. Photo: ASIF HASSAN / AFP
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Norwegian Pakistanis mobilize for flood victims – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
