David lends a helping hand in flood-stricken Pakistan

David O'Haire from Collinbridge works for Trocaire and he is currently in Pakistan to help co-ordinate the charity's relief effort in the ravaged country.

The floods which have thrown Pakistan into turmoil and affected nearly 20 million people have been ongoing for five weeks now. Around 1,600 people are dead and millions have been left homeless.

"This disaster has now affected more people than the tsunami and the Haiti and Pakistan earthquakes combined, and the needs of the people still totally outweigh the response," said David.

"Villages have been wiped out and whole crops have been destroyed. The effects of losing their crops could be catastrophic for people in the coming months. Millions of people are without clean water or food. Proper sanitation is critical and the threat of water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea is acute. Children are starting to show signs of skin diseases and stomach problems."

David explained that the floods first affected the north-west but the waters soon began to move south along the Indus River, and the Sindh region - one of the poorest parts of Pakistan - has been feeling the devastating effects for several weeks.

"I am in Sindh visiting some of the communities Trocaire has been helping. Trocaire has been working in several of the affected areas of Pakistan for nearly 40 years and because we have built up a network of local partners we were able to respond to the emergency almost immediately. We have been funding rescue operations in Sindh as well as supplying food, water and hygiene kits to vulnerable communities," he said.

"2.5 million people have been made homeless in Sindh alone. Everywhere you look there are people sleeping in whatever shelter they have been able to cobble together; some in incredibly dangerous spots at the side of the road.

"I met Jameela and her family. The floods have resulted in them losing much more than their house and possessions. A few days ago a car went out of control and ploughed into their makeshift shelter at the side of a busy road. Four people were killed. Jameela's brother, nephew and uncle were among the dead. Jameela, her daughter Lakshmi aged 12 and her seven-day-old son, Surag, were among the injured. Her baby has hardly fed since the accident happened.

"These people are from the village of Amri. The village is one of the oldest in Pakistan and was totally destroyed by the floods and like many millions of people across Pakistan they lost everything. These people are the poorest of the poor and are considered 'untouchables' in Pakistan's caste system. Because of this they did not feel they would be welcome in the camps that have been set up to help the flood victims so they went to the nearest available dry place they could find. Unfortunately the nearest available dry place was the side of the road.

"Trocaire has paid for these people to be moved to a safer place and will be funding emergency food rations for the 25 families of this village through our partner, the Indus Resource Centre, in the coming days.

"I met a 70-year-old farmer, Dhani Buksh. At his age most people should be looking forward to living out their twilight years in relative comfort. He was standing in waist-deep floodwater in what used to be his cotton crop. The crop was to have supported his extended family of 35 people and it has been totally destroyed along with his house. He is living with his 71-year-old wife in a tent. They have enough food to last a month but he told me that after that he doesn't know what they will do.

"Trocaire will be providing Dhani and his community with seed and fertiliser when the waters recede to help get them started again.

"The people of Northern Ireland have shown their usual generosity in this crisis and contributions to Trocaire's emergency appeal have exceeded 2 million. Every penny of that and more will be needed to help the people we are working with in Pakistan.

"I visited schools in the last few days where people took refuge and are living in horrendous conditions. Trocaire is giving these people emergency food and for that they are grateful. This help is absolutely essential as they come to terms with this nightmare. Trocaire will be here not just in the short-term as people cope with this catastrophe but for the years that it will take Pakistan to recover," said David.

To make a donation to Trocaire's Pakistan Appeal call 0800 912 1200 or visit www.trocaire.org