Swat Flood Relief Support, KPK, Pakistan

My name is Mueed. I am one of the community-based volunteers in the U.S. trying to help the recent flood victims of the horrific and deadly floods in the valley of Swat, KPK, Pakistan. These floods claimed hundreds of lives, and most, unfortunately, the death toll is still rising.

For those who may not know about Swat, it is a beautiful valley in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Historically, its significance traces back 2000 years. Swat valley emanates its majestic beauty over the region, and international tourism has dubbed it the Switzerland of Pakistan. Unfortunately, Swat has witnessed its share of natural calamities affected by Monsoon rains causing flooding on the Kabul and Indus rivers. Due to the climatic conditions and its relatively softer base of mountain composition, massive landslides have become more common. However, during the Monsoon season, they are now converging into the fiercest and most deadly floods from the overflowing river waters, accumulating debris on its way and causing extremely harsh consequences to human life and safety.

On August 26 and 27, 2022, the Monsoon rains caused a severe blow to the touristic valley of Swat, which is generally dominated by tourism beginning end of March through the end of September every year. According to government sources and media outlets, August 26th and 27th were the most horrific days for the people of Swat. While the recent events are still unfolding, no one knows where the final death toll will stop. Unfortunately, it is not the first occasion for such a major disaster caused by these wild floods in Swat. Since June 2022, flash floods sparked by devastating Monsoon rains in the country have claimed a death toll of over 1000 and forced the internal displacement of more than 33 million people due to the catastrophic devastation caused by floods. In July 2010, Swat experienced a similar catastrophe claiming the lives of several hundred.

Sadly, this region has not received due attention from the federal government’s funding for its practical and proactive environmental management. Instead, the government’s response has been primarily reactive to disastrous situations like this. The floods have already encroached on the lower region of KPK that falls on the flooding beltway in the districts of Charsadda, Nowshera, and Lakki Marwat. These events are reported by global news media outlets, including the U.S. news media like PBS, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and others.

Regrettably, it is too much of a burden on the already frail economy of Pakistan, weakened by the recent events of the abrupt political changes in the government administration. Additionally, a major disaster at this scale affecting almost the entire province of KPK from the effects of flood disaster, the federal and provincial governments are overwhelmed with the needed relief and recovery efforts. Most importantly, ensuring the control and management of diseases caused by this catastrophe and providing necessities like food and temporary shelter for the over 33 million internally displaced disaster refugees is a real challenge to the government. The government cannot resolve all these issues of immediate concern for human life and safety within its limited resources. Youtube videos are circulating on the events unfolding in Swat, followed by those in Charsadda and Nowshera. Some of these videos are too gruesome and heart-wrenching to watch, including young children getting swept away along with their parents in a matter of seconds. Multiple events are reported, and only God knows how many incidents were not captured by a camera or another human eye. These events shock every human soul.

This appeal is to all those who care about humanity, above politics or ethnicities, and are willing to be the angels of love, care, and support in these times of tremendous trial and hardship, mainly by the natives of Swat. We urge you to support all the disaster victims, those living but having lost most or all their family members, their houses, all their livelihood, and belongings. It is a time of showing solidarity and pitching in to help the living victims, the weak, and the exposed people from this disastrous event at the beginning of their relief effort towards a long journey of health, emotional, and economic recovery. We have lined up a team of honest, dedicated, and time-tested volunteers who have experience in disaster recovery efforts at a similar scale and either live in Swat or have experience in this valley. The charitable funds collected will be used to procure food, essential supplies, blankets, and life-saving medicines to the extent allowed under the laws of Pakistan. Our lined-up team will ensure that these funds are appropriately tracked and delivered to the most deserving and needy flood victims. We plan to publish a list of all the recipients once these funds reach 50% expense, and then a final list showing the 100% expense to allow our backers to see everything in complete clarity.

This is our chance to help as one race, the humans. Please be generous to those who have always been generous to their global tourists.