Pakistan Army launches massive relief operation for flood victims

Military announces establishing donation centres across the country to collect relief items

The Pakistan Army has launched a massive rescue and relief operation in the areas affected by torrential rains and flash floods.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday that the country is reeling from abnormal monsoon rainfall including Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and cloudbursts due to climate change.

The flash floods have wreaked havoc in many districts of Balochistan, Sindh, South Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, leaving at least 903 people dead,

As part of its national responsibility, the Pakistan Army has established a Relief and Rescue Organisation under Headquarters Army Air Defence Command to manage relief and rescue operations.

So far 40,000 people have been shifted to safe places and more than 137 relief camps established by the army.

Additionally, 23,000 people have been provided with medicines and medical assistance in around 200 temporary medical centres.

Similarly, the military has distributed more than 3,700 tents and other necessary items among the victims.

Apart from this, on the special orders of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the military has distributed more than three days of ration, about 1,500 tonnes, among the common people in the flood-affected areas.

In this spirit, all the general officers of the army have also donated their one-month salary to help the victims. Apart from this, other officers are also giving financial donations on a voluntary basis.

Despite all this aid, the damage caused by the floods is so great that more relief items and medicines are urgently needed to attend to the victims as soon as possible.

In such a situation, it is the national duty of all of us to actively contribute to help our affected brothers and sisters and children in this moment of need, the military’s media wing said.

The ISPR further said many philanthropists have also contacted the army in this regard.

Also read: Monsoon rains death toll reaches over 900, injures nearly 1,300

In view of the emergency situation, the Pakistan Army will also establish donation centres in all major cities for the collection of goods donated by the public under the instructions of the federal government.

Essential commodities such as ration (flour, ghee, rice, dal, dry milk, sugar, leaf) and clean drinking water will also be received by the donation centres.

First aid kits, and essential medicines to treat diarrhoea, eye, ear and skin diseases, dehydration, dengue and malaria can also be donated to the collection centres.

The official communiqué also appealed to philanthropists to come forward and help the distressed people during this national tragedy.

The army will ensure the transfer of all these items to the flood-affected areas as soon as possible and supply them to the victims.

Moreover, the ISPR asked donors not to deposit unnecessary items such as clothes, utensils, open and perishable food items etc at these centres to ensure delivery of essential items to the victims.

During this challenging time, the Pakistan Army is making all-out efforts to help the flood victims. The ISPR said the military on the request of federal and provincial governments is also aiding civil administration in conducting a joint survey for rehabilitation campaign which has been started in Balochistan.