FCC students help flood affectees

The first team of FC College students went to the Rajanpur area to conduct a survey for providing relief. A fellow student had suggested a location near his home in village Shidani Shareed, Khan Bela, Rajanpur which was not flooded but the area near it has been. (Please continue reading to the end to see a message from Ms Marianne Vermeer.)

The team went on the 3 August 2010, surveyed the flood-affected Chacharan Shareef and adjoining villages, set up two camps in schools and got the affected people to come to the camps. A number of people did not want to leave their houses so a tent camp was set up near the canal bank. All three camps are being manned by one student of FC College while others are trying to collect donations and working on logistics.

1. Shidani Shareef (main camp) in a school– providing meals three times a day to 30+ families (250+ people)
2. On the Canal Bank (7km away from main camp) we have installed a tent and given rations to people to cook their own meals (500+ people)
3. At the Girls High School near Shidani Shareef (5km away from main camp in a different direction), we have given rations to people to cook their own meals (150+ people)
4. Supporting people who live in other’s houses (as the hosts are themselves poor).

Packets of food for 10 people for 10 days were created. The team has so far distributed packets to over 850 families. These include families who reside in the camp as well as others who come only to get food. Milk is being bought from the affectees to be used for tea and other purposes. We have also provided clothes which have been donated by people.

Medicines are also available at the camps. Over the last two weeks, we have arranged visits by medical staff to the area. One was a senior student of Bahawalpur Medical College and the other a dispenser from the area. They are currently providing medical services full time.

The FCC student group has collected Rs. 1.6 million already of which Rs. 1.3 million was spent on food alone. The total cost of these camps is Rs. 15,000/day and currently FCC students have money till the coming Sunday (22 August 2010). Our goal is to use student and youth energy to collect Rs. 15,000/day from Lahore and continue the relief camps for a month as flood waters are still pouring in the area.

The FCC Red Crescent Society also organized a three day flood relief camp on campus from 5 to 7 October 2010 and managed to collect Rupees 16,848. The money was given to the FCC team supporting the cause.

To donate or to volunteer for raising funds, please call Mr Sajid Majeed on 0322.498.2217 or email ch.sajidgujjar@hotmail.com

More photographs from FCC and Chacharan Shareef

Many FCC students will remember Ms Marianne Vermeer who was at our university for three and continues to have strong links to Pakistan. Here is a message from her on http://www.ontheground.pk/

AUGUST 23 2010

Our second home

BY MARIANNE

My family and I spent three years in Pakistan (2005-2008) and it pains us deeply to see the devastation our second home has faced in the past few weeks. Our biggest source of encouragement right now comes from the young adults we know who are organizing relief drives, adopting villages to support with food, water and shelter, and raising funds and awareness through Facebook. They know their country needs help and rather than sit back and wait for the international community to respond, they are finding ways they can make a difference. I am heartened that these young men and women are the future leaders of Pakistan… if you’re interested in knowing how you can contribute to their efforts, send me a message and I’ll forward the details.