An outpouring of generosity

Karachiites, charities rise to rescue stranded citizens

Citizens left stranded by the monsoon rains that lashed the city last week found NGOs, volunteers and philanthropists coming to their assistance in the aftermath of the rains, providing potable water, cooked food and rations to those left marooned and helpless.

Along with the city's regular heroes - Edhi, Chhipa, and the like - individuals formed their own small teams and began helping where they could. Such charitable units managed to reach out to areas in Surjani Town, Ibrahim Hyderi, Malir, Gizri, DHA, Clifton, Korangi, Mowach Goth, Machhar Colony and others, distributing cooked food, other essentials to those stranded and without basic amenities.

"A few young boys handed out cooked food in our street," said Yousuf Raza, a resident of Kharadar. "It helped a lot of families who couldn't step outside because of electrocution or other reasons," he said, adding that he found the sight of the young boys standing in knee-deep water and distributing food to be heartwarming.

Several such groups could be seen helping out across the city, stepping up in the apparent absence of the government. Through social media, NGOs and individuals mobilised and reached the areas most affected by rain, while numerous posts could be seen on social media in the immediate aftermath of the storm, with individuals opening their doors to shelter those left unable to reach home by the downpour.

"Ours is a very small organisation but we tried our best to reach at least 400 families with cooked food," said Dua Foundation chairperson Muhammad Aamer Khan. A number of families contacted his team from New Lyari, Korangi and other areas, he said.

With around two dozen workers, Khan said that they tried to help those who were stranded in stagnant water. In Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Khan and his team also attempted to begin dewatering, he said, adding that his team plans on heading to Tharparkar for relief work soon as well.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Wajahat Noble, a student in the United Kingdom who returned to Karachi amid the pandemic, stepped up in areas including Ibrahim Hyderi, Mawach Goth, Gizri, Malir, Surjani Town and Bengali Colony. Wajahat had set up his organisation, the Noble Foundation, during the lockdown prompted by Covid-19 spread, and he continued to provide assistance to citizens as rains poured over Karachi.

Other charitable organisations such as the Robin Hood Army and Khwab-e-Kishwar were among those who rose to the need of the hour in Karachi, which is still seething from the record-breaking downpour. "The most important [items] needed in such disasters are cooked food and water," noted Wajahat.

"All of my family members are involved in the relief work," he added. He appreciated that people were generous enough to respond to his calls for relief work.

Meanwhile, Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) CEO Dr Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed told The Express Tribune that his team distributed cooked food to over 7,000 people in various areas of the city. "Similarly, our teams reached 4,900 people in Hyderabad and 1,400 people in Umerkot," he added.

Dr Ahmed said that not only food, but water and emergency latrines were also provided in the areas worst affected in Karachi. "It is the need of the hour to help our people."

Similarly, the HANDS chief services executive, Ghulam Mustafa, noted that a humanitarian crisis had emerged in the city. "But I fail to see any system equipped to respond to those in need," he added.

Nadeem, another citizen, commented on the lack of support for the city from other areas of Pakistan. "Despite so many difficulties, the citizens helped each other with the resources available to them. No one offered any help from outside the city, even though Karachiites often help people across the country during natural calamities," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2020.