Concern Worldwide and British Red Cross launch Pakistan flood appeals 1

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 2 Aug 2010

Facing two days of more devastating rainfall in flood-stricken Pakistan, Concern Worldwide and the British Red Cross have today launched appeals and released emergency funding for the relief effort.

Concern Worldwide have released £400,000 from its emergency funds to help with the relief effort in northwest Pakistan, where more than 1,100 are reported dead in flooding which began on the weekend. Predicting that conditions are going to worsen with forecast of heavy rainfall in the next two days, the charity has launched a public appeal to raise an additional £4m.

Meanwhile, the British Red Cross has already begun accepting donations for the Pakistani relief effort following the charity’s contact details appearing on the ITV news at lunch time. Tesco,

The charity, which is raising money for the Red Crescent Movement in Pakistan, is due to begin a telemarketing campaign targeting existing supporters tonight and will tomorrow allow for supporters to make ear-marked donations of goods at its charity shops, proceeds from the sale of which will go to Pakistan.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), of which both charities are members, has yet to decide whether it will launch its own appeal. A spokesman for the DEC told Civil Society that it is consulting with its members about the possibility of launching an appeal, and a decision will likely be made on the subject within the next two days.

Both Concern and the Red Cross report their agencies have already begun distributing emergency aid and shelter to affected people on the ground.

Picture courtesy of Concern Worldwide.

Directory: British Red Cross | Concern UK | Disasters Emergency Committee

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Mike Dean
15 Aug 2010

I have often wondered why, in the case of an emergency such as the present Pakistan floods, it takes so long for donated money to start reaching the desperate victims. Could it be because people contribute by credit, rather than debit cards? Do you have to wait days for the donations to clear through the credit card companies? If so, perhaps you might suggest, in your appeals, that people give through debit cards, instead. If they are made aware of the reason, I am sure they would be prepared to forego the minute amount of interest they might lose, in order to better fulfil their intention of helping quickly.

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