Although Mother Nature is to blame for the global devastation that has usurped millions of people’s sense of normalcy, there is a lot to be said for the rest of the world’s mobilization — or lack thereof — when it comes to natural disasters.
In the last few years, we’ve rightly seen huge movements to gather aid for Haiti, New Orleans and Thailand, which had been leveled by the forces of nature.
Perhaps this is why we find the murmur of a response to recent flooding in Pakistan unsettling. Given the magnitude of which our national security relies on the Pakistani government, this disaster has received a shameful amount of attention.
The month-long flood, showing little sign of slowing, has affected over 17 million Pakistani people. Approximately 900,000 dwellings have been damaged. One-fifth of the country is underwater. And, according to UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, more than 3.5 million children are at risk of contracting deadly water-borne diseases and hygiene-related sicknesses.
A United Nations report released Tuesday stated that 800,000 people affected by the flood are solely accessible by air, which will require 40 more helicopters (in addition to the 17 U.S. relief copters already there) in order to sustain aid.
Since the 1940s, the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has yo-yoed every time it comes to talking about nuclear weaponry, but Pakistan is one of our country’s most indispensable allies in the Middle East.
This flood calls for more than just human compassion. It demands attention and monetary support just like other recent disasters.
The Mobile Giving Foundation, which facilitates relief donations via text message, has been primarily working with the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF and World Vision Canada. In addition, The World Bank pledged to reroute $900 million from other Pakistani projects for immediate aid needs, according to the New York Times.
CNN reported the flooding will set back the country’s development by decades. Try to imagine that. A few decades from now, most of us hope to be in a steady career with a new set of achievable goals ahead of us — not still stuck in neutral.
Not to mention, 3.5 million Pakistani children will be robbed of normal childhood activities while living in makeshift camps until they can begin to rebuild.
We’ve seen Sun Devils actively engage in past relief efforts, and we’re sure some of you out there are already working at it for Pakistan. With such a large community, we can be among the first to make a difference and jump-start the aid, even if it begins with small donations.
By supporting organizations like UNICEF and Red Crescent, we help make the stalemate with survival a little more bearable.
