The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) – a consortium of 15 leading aid charities – have raised £13.5m for Pakistan’s relief efforts.
Chief executive Saleh Saeed told Sky News that the funds were raised in just over two days – and all thanks to the “hard efforts” demonstrated from his teams.
The DEC have 11 organisations working on the ground, with the help of Pakistan’s government and the United Nations.
Behind the scenes, a lot of hard work, creative endeavours and relentless bucket-shaking has helped bolster fundraising efforts.
Leading at the forefront is the UK’s British Muslim community – who have been hard at work to help provide emergency aid to Pakistan’s displaced peoples.
Islamic Relief is one of the main charities supported by the DEC – fundraisers can be spotted in every other mosque.
In Finsbury Park mosque alone, up to £6,000 was raised in less than an hour. Despite the cost of living crisis, people are digging deep.
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The imam, Jamal Abdinasir, suggested empathy – as well as charity – should be the impetus for every Muslim.
He said: “Allah tests different people in different ways. Tomorrow it could be us going through a flood, famine, drought, hunger… any difficulty.
“We don’t want that to be us. And should that be us, we are going to find rest in the fact that there are our brothers and sisters across the globe who are going to help.”
Read more: Men trek 20 miles from cut-off town to get food for their stranded families
Pakistan was already struggling – and then the floods hit.
The destructive monsoon rain has left more than a third of the country submerged in water, and more than 1,200 people have died.
Pakistanis have lost their lives, land and livelihoods.
The floods have left a devastating impact – and the South Asian country is grappling with the aftermath of this disaster.
It’s too soon to talk about rebuilding.
There is more rain on the horizon – and people have already lost everything.
But fundraisers are hoping to help make the lives of those affected a little bit easier – in the interim – where they can.
Azizur Rahman, one of the Islamic Relief fundraisers, told Sky News: “Our collection is going to help provide emergency aid to those that are vulnerable now. From food packs to emergency hygiene kits, and putting people in shelter.
“A lot of people have lost their homes, so we are setting up temporary accommodation for people, to give them a safe space to stay.”
The outpouring of generosity from this community is unsurprising.
In 2013, Britain’s Muslims were among the most generous givers, topping a poll of religious groups that donate to charitable causes.
Young children – spending their pocket money – are among the givers.
In a rather simple, but poignant comment, Selina Khaider, who can’t be more than ten years old, stressed the importance of compassion.
“Some of them don’t have food. They are suffering.
“We should help them. It would be very kind to.”
