Mayor's plea for flood help from 'generous' Reading
Published 5 Aug 2010 13:57
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THE Mayor of Reading today called on the town to back the national fundraising campaign to help the millions of victims of the floods which are devastating north west Pakistan.
Cllr Gul Khan was speaking as the campaign was being launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
United Nations estimates are that three million people have been affected by the floods and at least 1,500 have perished. Hundreds of thousands are still awaiting help and there are reports of desperate shortages of food, clean water, shelter and medicine.
Aid agencies are also warning that there are serious risks of further problems like outbreaks of cholera.
Cllr Khan, who came to Britain from Pakistan as a young man, said: "The reports and pictures we've been seeing are truly horrifying and my heart goes out to the people of Pakistan who are caught up in this nightmare.
"I am very pleased DEC is publicising its appeal for aid and I encourage everyone to do whatever they can to help."
He added: "I should think many people in Reading have relatives or friends in Pakistan and must be extremely worried about them. Reading has a proud history of generosity to people all over the world who become caught up in disasters like this and I would urge them to give as much as they can to help now.
"I will be supporting community groups who are coming together to organise fund raising and I ask people to lend them their support for this extremely needy cause."
Donations can be made online at the Disasters Emergency Committee website at http://www.dec.org.uk or by cheque payable to DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal and posted to DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. Donations can be made at any Post Office quoting Freepay number 1384 or at any high street bank. Or just ring 0370 60 60 900.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 05 Aug 10
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