The flood is still on dangerous levels in several parts of Pakistan. The numbers of effecties from the flood have crossed 20 million. More torrential rains are forecasted by the weather department. This is been considered one of the most devastating flood in world history. UN has once again appeal for donations for Pakistan. There has been very slow response internationally to help Pakistan in this most devastating period.

After destroying most of Khaiber Pukhtoonkhawa and Southern Punjab, Sindh is now the focus of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history. They reached the province after washing down the Indus River Valley, powered by unusually fierce monsoon rains that began in northern areas of the country some three weeks ago.

The deluge has left a trail of devastation, destroying roads, bridges and other infrastructure and overwhelming the government’s ability to cope. It’s affected some 20 million people, of whom an estimated 1,600 have been killed and about 5 million left homeless.

Labour Relief Campaign (LRC) has put up relief camps in several parts of Pakistan. The Lahore camp at Regal Chouck is raising money every day in thousands.

LRC was launched in October 2005 after the earthquake that killed nearly 100,000 in Pakistan. It has come into action whenever there is an emergency situation.

The member organizations of LRC include Progressive Youth Front, Women Workers Help Line, Labour Education Foundation, National Trade Union Federation, CADTM Pakistan, Labour Party Pakistan, Pakistan For Palestine and Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee.

Here is report of a union council in Khaiber Pukhtoon Khawa province by a team of four LRC members led by Farooq Ahmad member federal executive committee of Labour Party Pakistan.

Pir Sabaq, a Union Council of Nowshehra district populating more than 34,000 is completely destroyed by the recent flood water came on 29^th July. A tent city of more than 1,000 tents has been established there but most of the people are still forced to live in their homes partially destroyed by flood water, which can cause major building collapses any time resulting in loss of lives.

Not only almost all houses in this union council are destroyed but also the household items are swept away by flood water. Most of the people have lost their cattle and goats as well. People are left without any thing to eat, drink and wear.

Pir Sabaq is mainly the town of working class people who work in marble factories, stone crushing factories, construction sector and agriculture sector. Local people informed the team of Labour Relief Campaign, when it visited the areas yesterday, that more than 14 feet high waters were flowing over the roof tops in this town. This big flow of water came around 4 a.m. when people were sleeping in the comfort of their homes but speedily flowing high flood water did not give them any chance to save their belongings.

Small boats used for tourists in river Kabul, which are run by local working class people started helping in evacuation of people as soon as the flood came. These boat owners did their best to help save lives of common people.

While the army helicopters, on arriving at the scene, first started evacuating military men’s families and residents of big houses. People of the area realized this clear discrimination in army help. They informed the LRC team that many people stranded on roof tops of their houses waved their hands in air when they saw army helicopters coming for evacuation but of no use.

People have blamed that government did not inform then on time about the danger of flood. Some people have allegedly said that this water was allowed to flow from Warsik dam to save the military camps near dam.

The LRC team saw house of Pervaiz Lala, general secretary of LPP in Pir Sabaq, which was completely destroyed. He is his family are now without house as the majority of population of Pir Sabaq is at the moment. Pervaiz Lala informed the LRC team that they have arranged to set up a tent city of 150 tents in which more than 250 families have taken shelter.

Pervaiz Lala also informed that they did not eat for almost three days after the floods and now since two days an NGO has started providing some food to them. He also informed that not a single government official has visited this area so far. The information minister of KP province, Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said in clear terms that provincial government cannot do anything to help people in this disaster.

There is still water all across Pir Sabaq. Bad smell follows you everywhere. Diseases of stomach and skin have started targeting children. There is no clean drinking water available. Grave danger of spreading diseases is haunting people. Local government dispensary, the only medical facility for people in Pir Sabaq is totally destroyed.

People now are in need of: Food items like cooking oil, Wheat flour, milk, sugar, clean drinking water, vegetables, Clothes, Tents, Crockery and Medicine.

Here is an appeal we launched on 7^th August that gives you some more information and the ways to help the campaign.

Farooq Tariq
spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan

TO HELP, go to

[Urgent Appeal: More than 12 [20] million people suffering from floods in Pakistan – Please donate to Labour Relief Campaign]

Floods and the plight of Afghan Refugees

During the last three decades, Afghan people had to leave their homeland due to wars- Civil war and foreign invasions. They began to live in the camps set up for them near Peshawar. During the recent floods in the province of pakhtun khwa, the refugees camps in charsada and Nowsherhra have been completely washed away. Specially the Aza khel refugee camp that housed more than three thousand people has been annihilated by the floods.

This camp stood at the bank of Kabul River near Peshawar. Hundreds of people died and still more are buried under the mud of devastating floods. Those fortunate ones who succeeded in saving their lives are forced to live on motor ways under open sky. The whole area is infected with the dead bodies of animals and humans and their stinking smell is spread all around. Government and other relief agencies have completely ignored the Afghan refugees. U.N.H.C.R has provided them some tents so far to a few families only. Afghan women and children are going through very pitiable conditions. They have lost their identity cards which is another hurdle in finding a safe place to take sheltering. Hundreds of refugees are suffering from diseases and no medical help is available on roadsides where they are staying presently.

If no proper food, shelter and medicines are provided immediately hundred of women and children will die soon. We appeal to all humanitarian organizations of the world to come forward and give a helping hand to these miserable people who are passing through the worst conditions.

Farooq Ahmad
Member Excutive Committee
Labour Party Pakistan

TO HELP, go to

[Urgent Appeal: More than 12 [20] million people suffering from floods in Pakistan – Please donate to Labour Relief Campaign]