Devastation, misery, chaos, destruction…death. People are dying in Pakistan, dying. Young children, babies, adults and the elderly – everyone. Yet the world looks on, or in some cases looks away brushing the scale of the disaster under the carpet…why? because it is Pakistan that’s why.
Amazingly while this is happening, drone attacks continue to kill people in Pakistan frankly I don’t care what the US classify them as (militants/taliban) but the facts are that many innocents get killed and injured too.
All one needs to do is understand the prevailing mindset within the western paradigm of what Pakistan is, it is seen as a country of backward, illiterate, handout ready, oppressive, terrorising, mullah-mad people and above all (god forbid) they are muslims (well, the majority). That’s why we have a lacklustre response, at least Nick Clegg had the chumpah to say that the international response was ‘pitiful’ and frankly pathetic. Because it is.
This image has ben created on many levels and by many organisations and certainly Pakistanis themselves, whether their corrupt leaders or the inidividuals who voted the in power (on the odd occasion when they do have elections!).
It says a lot about a country when the best functioning part is in fact the Defence Forces, and it is they who are the only ones capable of responding to this crisis yet even they are overwhelmed. I have great respect for the Pakistani Military, but cannot help but feel that over the years money that should have gone to local goverment, to civilian infrastucture, to housing and bridge building standards has been wasted.
20 million are currently affected, more to come. Many of them have no easy access to food, clean water and shelter. Many have nothing at all and if they survive will have nothing to survive with once the aid evaporates.
It is a tragedy, please give to http://www.dec.org.uk while the campaign is ongoing. Post the campaign please give to Islamic Relief (www.islamic-relief.org.uk) who wil probably be there well after the DEC appeal ends. Thanks to those who donated.
May God give the victims strength in body and mind, may He alleviate their suffering and have mercy upon them in this life and the next. Ameen