How to help the victims of the Pakistan floods

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How to help the victims of the Pakistan floods​

Aug 12, 2010

More than one-fifth of Pakistan is under water today, as torrential monsoon rains continue to fall. The United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 14 million people have been displaced and more than 1,200 are declared dead -- numbers that are expected to rise over the next several days.

"The scale of the disaster is huge; the need of the people affected are huge," says John Holmes, U.N. humanitarian coordinator, as quoted by the New York Times. The organization has requested almost a half a billion in humanitarian aid.

As these humanitarian needs continued to be assessed in the coming days, here is what you can do to help support these crucial emergency relief efforts:

AmeriCares Airlifting Medical Aid to Help Flood Survivors in Pakistan is sending relief supplies to the region. Donations are accepted through their website;

Doctors Without Borders | MSF USA is providing emergency cooking sets, water tabs, hygiene kits, plastic sheeting to displaced Pakistanis. Support this work with contributions to its by contributing to its emergency fund;

International Medical Corps - International Medical Corps workers are also on the ground in Peshawar, providing medical care to evacuees. Donations can be made through the IMC website;

The Crisis Watch: Pakistan, which assists refugees in crisis situations, is on the ground in the flood zone assessing the situation and preparing to bring aid to victims in northwest Pakistan. You can donate to assist the IRC's efforts in Pakistan—and in other crisis zones—at its website;

Be the Change | Mercy Corps has established a Pakistan Emergency Fund to help displaced families in the hard-hit Swat Valley;

Oxfam International | Working together to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice hopes to reach 400,000 people affected by the floods by deploying tanker trucks to the region to help maintain clean water supplies, preventing the spread of waterborne illnesses. It is also providing hygiene kits and helping survivors evacuate. Donations are being accepted through their website;

Save the Children Official Site: Creating Lasting Change for Children in Need is already on the ground, and is accepting donations for its work in Pakistan at its website;

UNICEF - UNICEF Home is providing emergency assistance to more than 1 million children in immediate need. Visit the website to donate to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF;

WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting Hunger Worldwide (WFP) is providing food relief to flood victims. According to the WFP website, $1 fills four cups with nutritious food. Visit their website for more info on how to support these efforts.

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How to help the victims of the Pakistan floods -