The Flood, The Devastation, The Victims and a Humble Contribution by Team Karachi in Relief Efforts

The most devastating floods of Pakistan’s history have washed everything in its path except the will to survive and hope of the victims to rebuild their lives once again. Every bit of help going to the victims is like a drop in the ocean, and so were our relief efforts, which we planned to add our contribution to help raise the deserving to their feets, as per our limited capacities. 

With intention to add a similar drop into the ocean, Kamran Somani, Mufti Zahid Sangharwi, Moulana Adil Digri and I (Omar Javaid) drove 450 km from Karachi to reach Khairpur Meerus, on Sunday 23rd August 2010.

After an eight hour long journey we reached our destination at around 4:45 pm in the afternoon. Our hosts were one of the most active organizers of relief work in the affected area around the city. This team of relief workers was headed by Mufti Mir Mohammad Meerak, and the lead organizer Moulana Abdullah Samad.

Through a network of Madressahs, schools and other camps these individuals and their associates were coordinating with donors and fund raisers coming in from other cities, and directing their donations, charities or Zakat amount to where it was mostly needed. This way aid was forwarded to around three thousand flood victims on regular basis.

After our arrival Mufti Mir Muhammad and Moulana Abdullah Samad briefed about the situation and suggested the best way of helping the refugees. We were told that the victims were provided with food and medicine in reasonable quantities by various welfare organizations, NGO’s and the government however the victims had no means to fulfill needs other then food and medicine.

To have an idea about the extent of devastation in Khairpur Meerus outskirts please check the following clips:

During our visit to the camps we confirmed that each of the family in the camps had unique needs; like they were in need of soaps, detergents or any items to maintain hygiene, utensils to eat or cook food, feeders for infants, cloths, shoes, quilts etc, therefore the best way to help was to provide cash, of course only to the genuinely deserving.

Moulana Samad also told us about the experience of other relief workers who came to help and attempted to distribute ration at the camps. The refugees out of desperation went out of control and plundered the guy leaving him with only a Shalwar on his body.

When we visited the camp we saw a similar situation being created over a Toyota Hiace which came to distribute drinking water in a refugee camp. Keeping the situation in view we then decided rather to invite the confirmed refugees, i.e. only those who have been identified and whose particulars has been recorded by Moulana Samad and his associates, at a neutral location and distribute cash.

The very next day we executed the plan. Moulana Samad informed all those camps to send only the confirmed refugees whose names and particulars were also documented and available to Moulana Samad.

The victims were invited at Jamia Islamia Hamadia in Shehbaz Colony. Till 12 pm around 600 of such individuals arrived at the distribution point. Once envelops for 600 recipients were ready with apt amount of cash, Moulana Samad and his associates then begin to announce the names from the list he had, the individuals begin to show up and were provided with Rs. 1000 each. 75 year old Mufti Mir Muhammad Meerak also took active part in the distribution. To maintain the discipline and to avoid any unpleasant situation a couple of police officers were also brought on the scene. 

By 3 pm all the cash was distributed to around 600 individuals or family heads. Around 42 families were identified in extremely bad condition. Mufti Zahid and Moulana Adil went to market and bought basic food items of Rs. 62,000/- for them separately. This way a total of Rs. 660,000/- of Zakat, Charity or Donations reached to the deserving families.

The experience was heartening. Particularly to have a firsthand account of the devastation and then forward a helping hand to make a small amount of difference in the life of those who has lost every thing.

It was also very sobering to see the extent to which an individual can degrade his self respect to feed himself and his children. It would be height of ignorance on our part if we don’t realize from the experience that it is only a matter of chance or more aptly the will of God that it is them not us who have been affected by this disaster. Perhaps any kind of natural disaster can struck any individual at any time, let it be a hurricane, earth quake, tsunami or even an epidemic of a virus. The likely hood of being struck by such a calamity is equal for every individual. Keeping this in view we need to get rid of any sense of arrogance (Am I a sinner of lesser degree then the victims in the eye of God?) and rather replace it with a sense of humility, humbleness and sense of thankfulness towards the Almighty God, for the blessings he has bestowed on us and repent day and night for the sins we have committed. It is indeed due to His (SWT) will that we found ourselves among those who can give or contribute something, instead of the recipients end. Wise men says that God send such calamities to bring his servants closer to him … If this is happening then we can expect a quick recovery, if not then let us prepare for a disaster of a magnitude greater enough to wake us up from the slumber.