Click here to Raise Funds through Canadian Red Cross.

a charitable receipt will be issued.

Running until September 12, 2010, the last date by which donations will be matched, the campaign will drive donations through its website (www.hopeforpakistan.ca). Its growing team of forty plus volunteers will also target high-traffic commercial areas frequented by the GTA’s South Asian community, such as grocery and clothing stores. “We will be wearing orange t-shirts, and will be placing orange posters and donation boxes in many of our favourite local spots, so look out for us,” said Saira Sheikh, also Associate Executive Director of the campaign.

According to the 2006 Census, Pakistan is the third largest source country of newcomers to the Toronto area. Pakistan’s national language, Urdu, also experienced the largest growth in Canada of all non-official language mother tongues, from 87,000 in 2001 to 156,000 in 2006. South Asians also form Canada’s largest visible minority community. “We are confident that through a proactive approach, members of our local communities will come through, if even by donating a few dollars each. In Pakistan, one Canadian dollar can feed a family of four for one day so it is no understatement to say that your dollar will really go a long way,” said Qureshi. Key GTA-based media and businesses have committed to spreading the word and will be featured at www.hopeforpakistan.ca.

Matching commitments made by the federal government in response to global disasters apply only to donations given to registered Canadian charities. Given the need to act within the period of the government’s commitment, Hope for Pakistan chose the Canadian Red Cross and Islamic Relief Canada as the conduits to their mutual cause. “Every minute is crucial, as instances of fatal water-borne diseases and other preventable circumstances are sweeping over many of the approximately 20 million displaced victims, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces,” said Qureshi.

The Canadian public’s aid response has been far less than expected, even in light of the United Nations confirmation that the floods have affected more people than the Southeast Asian tsunami and the recent earthquakes in Kashmir and Haiti combined. This has been attributed, in part, to an image deficit facing Pakistan. Hope for Pakistan’s website includes photos of displaced Pakistanis, taken by local relatives and friends. These are in an effort to show real images of victims, complementary to the media’s efforts, in order to help alleviate Pakistan’s image deficit. The website also features an official campaign song that aims to do the same.

“Given Canada’s outstanding reputation in providing international disaster relief, we were saddened by the Canadian public’s response to the floods since concerns that may be hampering aid to Pakistan have absolutely no direct link to the vast majority of Pakistani women, children and men,” said Qureshi. “We understand that there are elements out of our control at play, but our team believes that this crisis begs to be seen through more of a humanitarian lens when the World Health Organization itself has concluded that there are at least six million people in need of life-saving assistance.”

Please visit www.hopeforpakistan.ca.

TORONTO, Aug. 27 /CNW/ – In a country where child protection was already a growing  issue, thousands more children in Pakistan will be put at risk as a result of the displacement caused by the flood crisis.

“There are limited arrangements for families’ security and safety, and the likelihood of children being abducted and abused can be a serious issue as camps start to overcrowd,” said Plan’s country director in Pakistan, Haider Waseem Yaqub. “We have to act quickly and effectively to protect these children.”

“Families are being registered upon their arrival in the camps in some districts, however absolutely no attention has been given to child protection issues, so we are working to address some of these gaps,” added Haider.

Women and children make up the majority of the people in the camps as the men head home to salvage what they can from their flood-ravaged homes. But without both parents to supervise, many children can get separated amid the confusion of the camps.

Even before the floods, a recent study by Plan International found that missing children cases were on the rise in a country already suffering from major security issues and natural disasters. In the 18-month period preceding the floods, 4,300 children went missing from Pakistan’s major cities. While reasons can vary, with some children running away to escape abuse or poverty, many are also abducted, trafficked or sold into the sex trade. The total number will certainly be higher given the current devastation, as children are always most vulnerable in times of crisis.

Before the flood, Plan had set up child protection training for Pakistan’s police force. Currently, Plan staff are raising awareness of child protection issues with volunteers and parents in the camps through training, posters, and orientation sessions.

Plan in action

• Plan is leading child protection initiatives and psychosocial support sessions for children experiencing distress caused by the disaster – this is Plan’s area of expertise.
• Plan is distributing hygiene kits in 6 districts of Punjab and Sindh, containing disinfectant, detergent, sanitary towels, toothpaste and other essential items.
• To date Plan has provided cooked food to over 282,800 people, distributed special child nutrition packs, set up tents to provide families with shelter, and installed water hand pumps in the camps.

For Charity Listings: Donations made to Plan Canada for Pakistan relief efforts between August 2 and September 12 will be eligible for matching.  Go to www.plancanada.ca or call 1 800 609 3142 or text HOPE to 30333 to donate $5 to Plan Canada’s Pakistan relief.

About Plan
Plan is a global movement for change, mobilizing millions of people to support social justice for children in developing countries. Founded in 1937 as Foster Parents Plan, and now one of the world’s oldest and largest international development agencies, Plan works in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, Plan is dedicated to  improving  the lives of children. For more information, visit plancanada.ca

MGF Canada works with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) and Canadian wireless service providers to enable the 100% pass-through of funds raised by all the mobile campaigns that it manages. By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the people affected by the devastating floods. The entire donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on a donor’s mobile phone bill. Donors also receive information about how to obtain an official income tax receipt.

“Mobile giving has proven to be the fastest and easiest way for the general public to donate to a worthy cause and make a difference,” said Jim Manis, Chairman and CEO, Mobile Giving Foundation Canada. “Experience has shown us that the mobile channel empowers people to donate more readily in small amounts and eliminate most barriers to giving. The flood relief efforts in Pakistan require our support now!”

“We continuously look for ways to leverage mobile as a means to empower our communities and support different causes,” said Bernard Lord, President and CEO, CWTA. “The people of Pakistan need our immediate assistance, and mobile giving is the perfect tool for Canadians to help our valued relief organizations continue their urgent efforts.”

Most Canadian wireless subscribers can help by picking up their mobile phone and:

    -   Text the word "REDCROSS" to 30333 to donate $10 to the Canadian Red
        Cross.
    -   Text the word "GIVE" in English or "DON" in French to 45678 to donate
        $5 to UNICEF.
    -   Text the word "WORLD" to 45678 to donate $5 to World Vision Canada.

The donation will appear on your wireless phone bill. No text messaging charges apply. MGF Canada thanks the Canadian wireless operators for providing this service at no cost, MyThum for its support services to the Canadian Red Cross, and Zipstripe for its support services to UNICEF and World Vision Canada.

Canadian non-profit organizations that are interested in mobile giving and want more information should visit the MGF Canada Web site at www.mobilegiving.ca.

About Mobile Giving Foundation Canada

The Mobile Giving Foundation Canada (MGF Canada) is the Canadian extension of the Mobile Giving Foundation, which was founded in 2007 to create a “mobile giving channel” that empowers non-profit organizations and donors. Working with North America’s top mobile carriers, the MGF enables the mobile channel for charitable giving by providing the organizational layer, operational guidelines and technical infrastructure for non-profit organizations and donors to use the incredible power and convenience of mobile technology. The “Mobile Giving Channel” gives wireless users a simple and immediate way to receive and respond to appeals from worthy causes with the donation charged back to the carrier bill and 100% of the donation going to the designated charity. For further information, please refer to MGF Canada’s Web site at www.mobilegiving.ca.

“In conditions like these, something as simple as a cough can turn into a deadly case of pneumonia; a lack of clean water is likely to result in diarrhea for a small child,” said Mike Bailey, World Vision’s regional manager for advocacy. “The fact is that many of these families may not be able to return home for at least three months, if not longer. Lack of adequate shelter, combined with an extreme shortage of health care and medicine, is making this disaster that much worse.” World Vision’s survey of households in Punjab found that the main health problems for children include coughing (32%), stomach and intestinal infections (30%), and skin infections (14%). For older children, the primary problems are coughing (25%), skin infections (25%), and stomach and intestinal infections (18%). World Vision surveyed 45 households in Punjab in addition to gathering information from staff at a health post in Punjab that sees 600 people a day. In addition, clinics and health posts in the north of Pakistan provided health figures; these sites see more than 3,000 people a day.

FACTS

• World Vision is running three emergency health clinics in Lower Dir and so far has treated more than 4,100 people suffering from waterborne diseases and other illnesses related to the floods, including 1,845 children under 15. Staff from two additional clinics opened earlier in the response have been redeployed to areas with more pressing need. World Vision aims to establish 20 health posts and 40 mobile clinics throughout the hardest-hit areas.
• World Vision estimates it will need $20 million USD to provide basic emergency relief for at least 300,000 people; so far it has only brought in $6 million USD, including nearly a million in Canada. In Canada, World Vision has seen a notable increase in donor calls since the government announced on Sunday that it would match private donations.

To donate to World Vision’s Pakistan flood response:

• Call 1-800-268-5528 (English) or 1-800-363-5021 (French)
• Visit www.worldvision.ca
• Text the word WORLD to 45678 to make a $5 donation

The federal government announced Sunday that it will match private donations to Canadian registered charities for Pakistan flood aid (made between August 2 and September 12), with no upper limit according to Government House leader John Baird.

The new fund is above the $33 million that the government has already pledged to Pakistan for the natural disaster.

Since the crisis began, cbm Canada has been providing life-saving assistance through its trusted partner on the ground to victims of the worst flooding to hit Pakistan in 80 years.

“Whenever there is an emergency, the specific needs of people with disabilities are overlooked,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director of cbm Canada.

“cbm is working with its local partners to save lives by providing food, shelter and medical services to those in need in some of the hardest hit regions.”

cbm is committed to Pakistan

For the past 30 years, cbm has been working in Pakistan. Extensive health and medical networks have been giving health care, eye care and education services to people struggling to survive the cycle of poverty and disability.

Now, and as the flood waters recede, cbm is focusing its efforts on helping people with disabilities and people most at risk of being disabled as a result of this disaster.

“Through the generosity of Canadian donors, cbm is restoring health to communities, preventing disabilities and rebuilding lives in the days and months to come,” says Epp.

Torrential monsoons triggered the flooding in northwest Pakistan in late July, leaving an estimated four million homeless, and affecting up to 20 million people. The official death toll is over 1,500.

Millions of homes and precious farmland have been destroyed by the flooding. The long-term impact will be felt for years to come.

cbm Canada is a leading Christian international development organization with a focus on helping people trapped in the cycle of poverty and disability in the poorest countries of the world regardless of race, religion, age or gender.

cbm has over 100 years of experience and expertise in giving medical care, rehabilitation and advocating on behalf of the poorest of the poor.

Every year, cbm brings hope and transform the lives of more than 23 million people.  www.cbmcanada.org

“The scale of this disaster is enormous and its impact has been devastating to millions of people and their communities,” said Gordon M. Nixon, president and CEO, RBC. “On behalf of our clients and employees, we are supporting the relief efforts with a donation and by making our branches available to help raise funds from the public.”

Anyone who wants to contribute to the Canadian Red Cross can do so by visiting any RBC branch in Canada. The Canadian government announced that it will match dollar-for-dollar money donated to registered Canadian charities between August 2 and September 12 to the flood relief. Funds raised will be used to provide relief items such as food, clean water, shelter materials, blankets and clothing on an urgent basis where the need is the greatest.

“We understand the importance of global relief at such a catastrophic time, and are ready to assist those affected by this tragedy,” said Teri Currie, Group Head, Marketing, Corporate & Public Affairs and People Strategies, TD Bank Financial Group.

“On behalf of our employees and customers, our hearts go out to the Pakistani community and we wish you and your loved ones well during such an ordeal.”

“The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $20,000 toward emergency aid for the millions of people in Pakistan who have lost homes, crops, and livelihoods to massive and widespread flooding,” said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.

The Steelworkers’ contribution was made today to Oxfam-Canada by Masood Chaudhry of USW Local 9042 and a member of Toronto’s Pakistani community, as well as Thomas de Sousa, a Steelworkers Humanity Fund board member.

“Once again some of the poorest, most vulnerable people on the globe are having to put their lives back together and rebuild their homes and communities in the face of a natural disaster,” Chaudhry said. “Thanks to the contributions of Steelworker members to the Humanity Fund we are able to be part of that effort.”

At least six million people in Pakistan are in need of immediate humanitarian aid. On August 11 the United Nations appealed for US $460 million in international aid to help flood-affected families.

“What is really needed in the long run are changes in the global economic system to create balanced economic development that reaches poorer populations so they are not so vulnerable to natural disasters,” the USW’s Neumann said.

Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is a registered charitable organization. Steelworkers members contribute to the Fund through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some cases matching contributions come from employers.

The Fund’s mandate is to address hunger and poverty issues, primarily in the developing world.