Pakistan's Twitter community steps up to save lives

Those who have access to social networking sites can be seen springing into action to help out in the floods crisis.

The concept of activitism through technology maybe relatively new to Pakistan, but those who have access to channels of communication on the world wide web have been working towards furthering relief efforts for the victims of the worst floods ever to have struck Pakistan.

Although it started slow, mostly due to the lack of awareness about the intensity of the floods, when realisation hit, those who had access to social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook could be seen springing into action, creating awareness about the situation, and more importantly using the web community to coordinate and gather support for relief efforts.

Twitter activism

On Twitter, one can see many initiatives being shared by various people. Some the popular ones, that were retweeted (shared) by users are listed below. People can click on the links provided with the tweets and go onto other web pages that would either offer service to donate online, or would direct people to other ways that they can help out.

pehlimadad #PKFlood Please donate to help the flood victims and be a part of our helping community at http://pehlimadad.org

PKFLOOD PakRelief.org’s Mission -http://www.pakrelief.org/mission/ #pakistan #pkflood #pkfloods

Cynic_ Help #Pakistan #Flood Victims. Don't trust Govt. Only pay to credible Agencies like #WFP - http://bit.ly/bzWGGp - #pkflood#pkfloods #floods

Sin2Go How can We Help flood victims in #Pakistanhttp://www.farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/ #PkFlood@FarrukhSiddiqui

humairaahmad #pkflood our relief camp visit pictureshttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=243494&id=641140588

HumanityRoad Are you in #Pakistan Flood area? Send Text to 3441 start message with FL & location (example: FL SWAT 16 bridges washed away) #hmrd #pkflood

HumanityRoad via @DrAwab #pakistan #pkrelief our team B doing relief hamper drops around Kashmore http://twitpic.com/2feau9#pkflood #hmrd

LuciaOrth via @beenasawar #Pakistan Reliable NGO. Target: 24,000 dry ration bags, less than $20 each http://bit.ly/diGz9Y#pkflood

Exchange of ideas equals mobilisation

Individual Twitter users also share their thoughts on the devastating calamity at hand and how there is need for more effort. Some did it by words, while some shared visuals to make more of an impact so as to generate some sort of realization that more needs to be done.

AwaisJaffery @BillGates here is an opportunity for bill and melinda foundation to help millions! Donate to the victims in Pakistan! RT! #pkflood

Hussainch @barackobama We are changing our minds about America as its the biggest donor to #pkflood #helppakistan. Thank you. #domore

pehlimadad #PKFlood A picture is worth a thousand wordshttp://fb.me/xIiHs6YW

abidifactor The school are ruined. People have broken furniture to make fire to cook #flood #pkflood #Pakistan #Education#HelpPakistan

Zacardo (pic43) #Pakistan #PkFlood #Disaster #HelpPakistan#Donate #Ramadan http://twitpic.com/2fdv06

faisalkapadia U are the future of #pakistan we will not let u be extinguished!! @DrAwab #mcp team #kashmore #pkfloodhttp://tweetphoto.com/39432237

Anas_Muhammad @zobikhan1 @farhanmasood Nice, lets use that to tweet more information about the #PkFlood & ways to donate.

BushraS Here's a big shoutout to @natashajahangir who's been tweeting tirelessly at celebrities to raise awareness about#pkflood. RT her!

To search for Tweets relating to the floods in Pakistan, one can visit #pkflood on Twitter and get the latest on efforts being organised by the online community.

Other Twitter or social networking initiatives can be submitted in the comments section below.