Pakistan Flood Appeal

Please read the following plea
from pupils who rightly wish to take immediate action:

“Over one-third of Pakistan’s land is
still underwater. To put that into scale, imagine the entirety of Britain,
plus Northern Ireland and still a fair bit more, all completely covered by
water. 33 million people are currently suffering as a direct result of this
flooding. Many have left their homes with little or no belongings, desperately
seeking safety on higher ground. Families have lost their houses, livelihoods,
and in some cases loved ones. More than 1,150 people have been killed and at
least 400 of these were children. The devastation caused to the health and
well-being of the people of Pakistan has not even nearly hit its peak, with an
impending Malaria crisis due as a consequence of diseases carried by the water,
and millions of households suffering from structural damage and destruction.

It is a crisis, the likes of which have not
been seen in over a decade, yet it continues to be overlooked by news outlets
and media sources alike. Unlike many crises which occur in the west, these
floods have barely been a point of interest for many of the UK’s biggest news
channels. As a result, support from the UK in terms of charitable donations and
general awareness has been minimal. However, by spreading awareness and
making that direly needed contribution ourselves, we as a community can help to
become the beginning of the help which is so desperately needed, taking
responsibility and providing for those far far less fortunate than we
are. 

The charity we have chosen to raise funds
for is the DEC - the Disasters Emergency Committee, which unites 15 member
charities who are experts in humanitarian aid and specialists in different
areas of disaster response. The DEC launches appeals during times of monumental
suffering, which is the case in Pakistan right now. 

This truly is an urgent appeal, and we hope that you all can do
the right thing and donate what you can.

- Sahar and Zamin”