A quick update / comment on the ongoing crisis in Pakistan. It is good to see that a reasonable amount of focus remains on the country with updates regularly on the news.
Yesterday the UN launched their largest ever natural disaster appeal – seeking over 2 billion US dollars. There appears to be more and more acknowledgement that funding commitments need to be for the long term not the immediate crisis. The $2 billion target will be spent over the next 12 months and is more than 4 times the initial request of $460 million.
In my last blog post I highlighted a number of facts and figures to try and give some sort of illustration of how huge a disaster the flooding is. This increase in the appeal amount from the UN – again I highlight that this is more than any other UN appeal – shows the severity of the impact these floods have had in Pakistan.
Although news outlets continuing to keep Pakistan in the headlines and helping to raise the profile of what is happening is encouraging, it is not always done in the correct tone. Just as I started writing this post this morning, BBC World News listed what features were on today’s programme. I quote:
Later in the programme we will be continuing our journey down the river Indus…
It was said in an ‘adventure TV show’ tone and it is important to remember viewers are not watching a TV show, this is real life. Admittedly, it is nearly impossible to imagine the scale of 20 million people being directly affected by the flooding. However, is important to guard against getting sucked in to watching the news reports from Pakistan as entertainment.
The school I work at raised B$1000 (Brunei dollars) from a non-uniform day and have kindly agreed to add this to funds I am raising through hosting a Pakistani dinner evening. Interest has been quite high and I hope to have about 35 people for dinner next Friday. A local Pakistani restaurant we frequent here in Brunei will be catering. So far we are a little short of raising B$1000 from the evening. The student council at school are also organising an event – a quiz night – from which the proceeds will also be added to the schools donation. I am confident that the B$2000+ will make a difference to the people of Pakistan who have had their lives torn apart.
The Pakistani High Commission here in Brunei are also keen to organise fund raising events and have asked the school for their participation. They plan to hold a ‘walkathon’ at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Satium. I am hopeful that some of our students can participate in the event to help raise awareness of the plight of the Pakistani people. It is good to see the High Commission here organising something.
During my research for this blog I thought I would read up about the National Stadium. It opened in 1983, the date for the opening event was to coincide with His Majesties father’s 70th birthday. A UK league football team was invited over to play the Brunei National football team for the opening event. That team was…. Sheffield United! What are the chances of that?! Being a lifelong Blades fan I was of course both amazed and delighted! Naturally, I must let you know the score of that game, Blades went on to win 1-0. Apparently the first team returned to Brunei in 1993 and won 4-1. Perhaps they need another visit here for pre-season trianing in the hot and humid conditions, given their current form!
Evidence of the first ever match at the National Stadium with the Blades and the Sultan (who I met last weekend) in attendance!
A further comment on the UN’s ambition to raise over $2 billion to finish with. I still think there is a reluctance to donate money to Pakistan’s flood victims due to the fear of corruption. In many ways this is understandable. One must only look across the border to Afghanistan to see how easily corrupt practices are allowed to go on. Still, I remain confident that through the right channels it is possible to give so that it positively impacts the floods victims.
Have you done anything to try and help? What are your thoughts about the UN’s appeal? Can an ordinary person like you or me make a difference to a flood victim in Pakistan? Please let em know your thoughts and comments!
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