At this very moment, millions of innocent people in Pakistan are struggling to survive due to the disastrous flooding in all four provinces of the country. The U.N. estimates that based on the number of people affected (20 million), Pakistan’s flood disaster is worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined. 

With the death toll figuring 1600 and the number of individuals displaced reaching 20 million, the floodwaters continue to rise, as do these figures, mercilessly. 800,000 people have been cut off by floods and are only reachable by air. With over 17 million acres of fertile land being submerged in floodwater, and 200,000 livestock killed, the agricultural damages alone reach more than an estimate of $2.9 billion.

UN and other aid agencies have estimated and warned the outbreak of diseases such as gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and skin diseases such as scabies due to the lack of clean drinking water, posing a threat to the flood victims. Cases of cholera have already been reported in regions of Nawshera. 40,000 children are left susceptible to chronic water-borne diseases.

With 1/5 of the country submerged (roughly the size of Florida), and nearly a month into the floods, locals are still battling through and trying to prevent their villages from being lost to these vast unforgiving waters.

Light a candle in remembrance of those that have lost their lives to the floods and to show support for survivors who are struggling.

Candle Light Vigil for Pakistani Flood Victims

DATE:
October 6th, 2010

TIME: 
9pm - 10 pm

LOCATION: 
Academic Plaza (where Silver Taps is held)