Pakistan: What Oldham is doing to help ‘devastating’ floods

The country’s climate minister called the deadly monsoon season “a serious climate catastrophe.”

According to the 2011 census, people with Pakistani heritage made up the second largest ethnic group in Oldham, at just more than 10 per cent of the population.

Now, Oldhamers are calling for action.

Oldhamer Afruz Miah started running for charity two years ago after suffering a health scare due to developing hypertension.

Now, he’s raising money for Pakistan.

Afruz and his team hosted a charity car wash on Wednesday, and more actions are planned.

Afruz Miah. Photo: Global Relief Trust

Afruz said: “We’re going to have a Family Fun Day, and we’re also planning to walk from Oldham to Bradford to raise awareness and raise funds in late September.

“We have friends and family over there, and a team that’s on the ground so we get first-hand information on what’s going on.

“This is only the start. After a few weeks, everyone thinks it’s OK but it’s not.

“After they control the floods, they’ll need medical aid, food, housing. It’s one thing after another – this will have an impact of between five to ten years, if not more.

“It’s devastating, it makes us appreciate how lucky we are. It could have been us there – we would have to rebuild.”

Donations can be made to Afruz’s fundraiser on Givebrite.

This combination of March 24 and August 28 photos shows the Indus River in the aftermath of flooding in Rajanpur. Image: Maxar Technologies/AP

Local MPs have also called for action

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has written to the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, following the devastating floods.

She said: “I have urged the Foreign Secretary to do more given the extent of this catastrophe and to work with the international community to provide immediate assistance in this humanitarian disaster.

“Given the causes of these extensive floods are known to be a result of global warming and the melting of thousands of glaciers within Pakistan, and yet Pakistan is responsible for less than 1 per cent of global carbon emissions.

“I’ve also demanded that should the Foreign Secretary become Prime Minister on Monday, September 5, that she takes immediate action against the climate crisis.”

A man looks for salvageable belongings from his flood-hit home in Jaffarabad, a district of Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province. Photo: Zahid Hussain/AP

Jim McMahon MP said: “The loss of life and displacement of millions of people in Pakistan is devastating.

“That we are seeing a third of the country under water and it has taken our government so long to act is a shame on our nation.

“With many people across our community having close family and friendship ties to the country, it is essential that the UK plays its part and steps up to meet the scale of this challenge. The Foreign Secretary has been nowhere to be seen but she must now step up to support the people of Pakistan.”

Displaced families receive food and take refuge on a roadside on the outskirts of Peshawar. Photo: Mohammad Sajjad/AP

What the Foreign Secretary says

In a statement published today, the Foreign Office announced £15 million of humanitarian support.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “The UK stands with Pakistan, as tens of millions of people face devastating floods, which have left a third of the country – an area roughly the size of the UK – underwater.

“As a major humanitarian donor, we will do all we can to get life-saving aid to the most vulnerable, including through this £15 million package of support.”