Floods

[lady_of_clunn]

The water just doesn't want to go away.

It's awful. It's much, much worse than awful but I can't think of any adequate word. North and south of where I am it's hell on earth.

Between 17 and 20 million people have been affected. That's what the UN and the Pakistani government says.

'Affected' meaning their houses, all belongings, lifestock, crops and even their families have been lost in the masses of waters. Soon, waterborne diseases will start rampaging...  For at least two years, nearly all food will have to be imported as practically the entire crop of this year is lost. I do not know how the poorer families will be able to pay for imported food.

Many areas haven't even been reached because they are so remote and bridges and roads have simply disappeared.

Governments are sending aid but my mother says that at least in Germany, private people are reluctant to donate because they fear that the money will not reach the flood victims.

On my flight here I personally met Red Cross aid workers who assured me that they are controlling who will receive and what will be done with the money.

This catatsrophe is bigger than the 2004 tsunami, the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir and the Haiti earthquake combined. I don't know why it's so bloody quiet out there.

Comments

[rivertempest.livejournal.com]

I've been so worried about you, hun - so much is happening to Pakistan right now!

Please remain safe, you have my constant prayers. *tight huggles*

[elvishly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the main thing about donating, is that Pakistan doesn't have the greatest public image and so people are hesitant about corruption etc. Are you keeping up with the BBC news website? They have a few articles on the situation, why people aren't donating etc. It makes for interesting reading... minus the comments. Some of which are pretty demeaning. e.g. citing Pakistan's nuclear commitments, lack of help from other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia...

Personally, I am sticking to the big companies. There's a degree of transparency involved, I guess. :-/

However, I am rather happy about the UK response, even if it was expected. :|

My thoughts are with you guys. ♥

[ratherbsailing.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I hope you and your family will be alright? This is upsetting, going to check the news for more info. on it.

[ratherbsailing.livejournal.com]

This is odd....the American press isn't really covering the way they should. Although they don't ever really cover the east well in general...found this

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mira-veda/lack-of-media-coverage-fo_b_689380.html

Hmm...going to do more digging.

In the meantime, I hope you and yours are alright. Keep us posted when you can. I'll keep you guys in my prayers.

[clockworkwasp.livejournal.com]

My company donate our dress down Friday money to a different charity each month, this time we're giving it to the DEC Flood Appeal. I think the scale of it is part of the issue, most people can't or won't come to terms with the extent of the devastation.

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Oh my, I hope you're okay <3

[draconis23.livejournal.com]

It's absolutely devastating to see the news these days. Everywhere you look natural disasters. I just talked about it with my mum and we came to the conclusion that it's too much. We donate and donate and donate, but at one point it just gets too much. I watched the charity show on ZDF last night, even the Bundeskanzlerin was there. We do what we can, but even though Germany is one of the richest countries around we still have a lot of problems ourselves, but who am I telling that, right?

Okay, I stop ranting now. I hope you are safe. You're in my thoughts.

*hugs you real tight*

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

While my heart goes out to all those suffering through this, I must say I'm very relieved to hear that you and your family are still safe.

I had no idea the media weren't covering the problem very much in the States, as it's been one of the top stories here in the UK since it started and the media are still talking about it daily and continue asking for public assistance.

[robs55.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear that you're all safe, hun. *hugs*

As far as charitable donations go, I'm not exactly the most generous. But what I do give goes to a charity where I know exactly how it will be used. I'm a teensy bit paranoid about charities and money. Pakistan's public image doesn't help much either. I still feel for everyone caught up in the disaster though. I can't imagine how hard it is to lose everything.

[willowfaerie2.livejournal.com]

When I was reading about the devastation to Pakistan on the web, I was thinking about you. I’m glad to hear you’re not in an area that has been badly hit. You are very right about the lack of coverage. I’m so sorry for the famer’s plight.

[apkblack1.livejournal.com]

You know, I saw nothing about this in the news at all, and then saw this on a Jason Isaacs fangirl site ... http://twaud.io/79P

Embarrassing that this is how I found out about it. (It's several weeks old.) But then again, glad to know that someone somewhere is responding to it. And infuriating to know that it's not getting the press it should.

[lokifan]

:( I'm really grateful you're safe... but it's all so awful! And I'm angry with David Cameron, not that he could have known, because I think his stupid 'exporting terror' comments have made things worse.

*goes to pay for her help_pakistan bids*