Ministries bringing food to millions in Pakistan after 'devastating' flooding

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank alongside the government and other organizations are stepping up to provide relief for millions affected from intense flood waters in Pakistan. 

"The situation in Pakistan right now is almost indescribable," says Stefan Epp-Koop, the Humanitarian and Nexus Program Manager at Canadian Foodgrains Bank. "We have a flood that has impacted 33 million people and a third of the country is underwater right now. People's livelihoods have been washed away."

According to Epp-Koop, 1,400 people have already died due to the intense amount of flooding. 

"You know, 750,000 livestock have died. That's livestock people relied on for their livelihoods. People's businesses and homes have been washed away."

As so much of the land is underwater, people are living on the roadways which are higher up, with no access to necessities. 

"They have no access to clean water, to food, to decent shelter. The situation is really quite terrible."

Monsoon season starts in June in Pakistan. However, there has been as much as six times the rain they normally receive and the situation became an emergency roughly a month ago. 

"For many people, up until the flood, they were experiencing a time of drought. This flood will have devastating impacts."

(Supplied by Canadian Foodgrains Bank)

Helping the Vulnerable

The Canadian government just announced today that any funds Canadians donate to help with this crisis, they will match until September 28.

"In Pakistan, we are working with Community World Service Asia to implement responses to enable people to get food in the short term."

Those projects are currently being finalized to help people in Pakistan as quickly as possible.

"We're also part of the Humanitarian Coalition which is a group of highly respected agencies here in Canada that is working together to raise funds to support the response in Pakistan."

People interested in helping those in crisis can visit and donate funds at this website. 

"We’re grateful that we already have trusted partners on the ground who we have been working with for many years," says Executive Director Andy Harrington. "We are supporting them as they respond with diligent compassion and care."