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Variety of Ways to Donate to Pakistan Flood Relief

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The U.S. Department of State has established the Pakistan Relief Fund for all to join in the tremendous relief, recovery and reconstruction effort in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating floods. Individuals, corporations and other organizations can send much-needed help to the people of Pakistan through a variety of means.

IN THE UNITED STATES

U.S.-based callers can help with relief efforts by texting “FLOOD” to the number 27722, which will contribute a $10 donation to the State Department’s Pakistan Relief Fund. In addition, by texting “SWAT” to the number 50555, U.S.-based callers can make a $10 contribution that will help the United Nations provide the Pakistani people with tents, clothing, food, drinking water and medicine.

Working with mGive, U.S.-based callers are also contributing to Pakistan flood relief by texting the word “SWAT” to 50555. The text results in a donation of $10 to the UNHCR Pakistan Flood Relief Effort. Every $10 helps provide tents and emergency aid to displaced families.

Information on donating online or sending a contribution via the U.S. mail can be found at the Pakistan Relief Fund site and both methods are available to all donors anywhere.

IN PAKISTAN

People in Pakistan are invited to share information and updates by SMS texting the word FLOODS to 7111, the country’s active Humari Awaz (“Our Voice”) cell phone network. Through Humari Awaz, Pakistanis are able to update each other about the latest flood news, get information on valuable nongovernmental organization (NGO) grant and business opportunities and make new announcements of support, according to a State Department fact sheet. The Humari Awaz social network was launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her visit to Pakistan in October 2009. Since the launch, the network’s subscribers collectively have sent more than 350 million messages. To learn how to use Humari Awaz, mobile users in Pakistan need only SMS the words “HELP” or “MADAD” to 7111.

The government of Pakistan and the Pakistan cellular phone industry are inviting Pakistanis to contribute to the Prime Minister’s Fund for Flood Relief by texting the amount of their donation to “1234.” A number of NGOs and companies have announced the creation of trust funds or donations to the Prime Minister’s Fund, according to State Department fact sheets.

ADDITIONAL DONATION INFORMATION

The most effective way people can assist is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Cash donations allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc.); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietarily and environmentally appropriate assistance.

A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at www.interaction.org. Information about organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at www.reliefweb.int. More information is also available from the State Department, www.state.gov/pakistanflooding; the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), www.usaid.gov/pakistanflooding; and the Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org.

As Secretary Clinton has said, the Pakistan flooding has affected more people than the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami combined.