the Indus river also overflows its banks. The emergency is getting worse and help is scarce

The serious catastrophe, caused by exceptional rains, shows no signs of abating. According to the latest official data, 1.7 million homes have been damaged and more than 33 million people have been affected. The fundraising campaign promoted by continues to support a town whose small Christian community has lost everything.

Sindh () – The National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan has published a new report on the floods, stating that more than 6.6 million families are affected, a total of 33 million people. There are almost 1.7 million houses damaged, but so far only 631,824 people have found refuge in the emergency camps. At the moment the alert is mainly focused on Sindh province, where the flooding of the Indus River is devastating towns and settlements.

In Allah Bachao Shoro (God save us) – the village of 150 families about 6 km from the city of Hyderabad to which we directed the collection of aid launched by – the riverbank was washed away on September 5. The closest settlements were submerged under a meter and a half of water. Among the flooded buildings is the Joy Education Public School, a project involving the local Christian community. When the embankment collapsed, people had to take shelter on the roof of this school.

The only way to reach the inhabitants is by sailing, in a boat: the director of the Irrigation Department declared that the water will take at least 10 days to recede. Of particular concern is the limited availability of medicines to treat bites from snakes, scorpions and insects in the water, which are even more frequent in this precarious situation. “The land is no longer arable, all the fields are under water and completely destroyed,” says local activist Safdar Bhatti. “People only get one meal a day, thanks to the locals who bring them cooked food. Only the support of God’s people living in other countries can save us. Please support these unfortunate people, victims of nature.”

The situation of Allah Bachao Shoro is repeated in many towns. Another town called Padri Di Goth (Residence of the Shepherd), where 500 Christian families live, was completely damaged by the breaking of dams and canals in the area. More than 1,300 acres of land cultivated by local Christians are completely ruined and the people are in abject poverty, without medicine, shops or food. Help is slow in coming. These people raise their hands to God, and pray that He sends them the necessary support to survive.

Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Watch Pakistan, confirms that the number of people in difficulty is growing by the day. The gap between the efforts to help the population and the magnitude of the needs is too great and people continue to die. The questions about the future are dramatic: the water has devastated valuable fruit trees and crops, killing livestock and destroying key businesses in Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa provinces. It will take months to recover from this catastrophe and repair the damage through joint efforts. Meanwhile, food, clean water, tents, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and medicine are urgently needed.

Anyone who wishes can collaborate with the fundraising campaign promoted by aimed at helping these communities in the midst of tragedy.

You can support the campaign for the victims of the floods in Pakistan through any of the following methods, always indicating AN05 EMERGENCY PAKISTAN as the reason:

Online, at this link: by credit card (Visa, Cartasì, Mastercard, American Express) or Paypal

Wire transfer in the name of Fondazione Pime Onlus, Credit Agricole

IBAN IT89M0623001633000015111283

In all cases, please send an email to [email protected] confirming that the transfer has been made and specifying your name, surname, address, tax code, place and date of birth (useful information for issuing the valid document for tax deduction).

postal current account No. 39208202 to name Fondazione Pime Onlus.

Check or bank draft payable to Fondazione Pime Onlus, favour send to Fondazione Pime Onlus, via Monte Rosa, 81 – 20149 Milan.