New boost for People to People initiative

Concert-goers in The Hague will be invited to support to the People to People flood relief campaign at the opening performance of the season by the award-winning New Dutch Academy, conducted by Simon Murphy.
The New Dutch Academy (NDA) is the international Dutch platform for all forms of 18th century music, based in The Hague. The musicians of the NDA embody a new generation of the international Dutch early music tradition, under the artistic direction of Australian/Dutch conductor player Simon Murphy.
At the initiative of the Australian Embassy, this concert in The Hague’s Dr Anton Philipszaal on 30th September will benefit people in Pakistan by supporting the People to People campaign.
Concert-goers will have the opportunity to make donations to flood-relief work in Pakistan.

The director of Gender Concerns International, Sabra Bano, expresses her gratitude to the Australian Embassy for their support in initiating this wonderful opportunity.

Ambassador of Pakistan speaks out

“The Dutch response to the floods in Pakistan reflects true Dutch values and demonstrates that they live up to their aspirations to help as part of the international community”, said Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, speaking in an exclusive interview with Gender Concerns International. Read more quotes below:

“The crisis created by floods in Pakistan has certainly not ended, but is entering a new phase.” “The reconstruction phase is crucial – and it will be important to pay attention to gender as part of it.”

“Whilst money and donations are important, the expression of solidarity counts as much as all the Euros and cents”.

Read the entire interview on our website www.genderconcerns.org

People to People donations help pregnant women and families in Pakistani camps

The focus of the People to People campaign is to raise funds to support pregnant women and their immediate families who are affected by the floods.

In co-ordination with local partners, we are targeting women living in 3 camps for internally displaced people. Women who are due to give birth in the next 6 months will be given practical assistance, such as hygiene kits and provision of water and sanitation facilities. Camps in both urban and rural areas will be supported.

Millions in need of food

Pakistan risks a dangerous downwards spiral of hunger and malnutrition. “We need to scale-up now and we need to scale up quickly” said World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. 

Limited food is available in flood zones and food prices in some areas have soared, further compromising people’s ability to feed their families. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that more than 10 million people need immediate food assistance. Specialized feeding programmes targeting small children, and pregnant and nursing mothers who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of hunger and malnutrition need to be set up. According to WPF estimates, the budget required for the new emergency food relief operation through to July 2011 is now USD $600 million!

Campaign coupons

Specially designed coupons are being used to generate additional funds for Pakistan.

Students and young people are using handy books of coupons to encourage people in Dutch schools and universities to make donations to the People to People campaign. Every amount helps, large or small, and can make a real difference.

Urgent need to keep on donating

International partners are working hard to provide practical aid and assistance.

Gender Concerns International and its local partners, Aurat Foundation, Paiman Alumni Trust and HOPE, are engaged in meeting the needs of flood-affected women throughout the country. Aurat Foundation’s Motherland Flood Relief Action has helped bring practical support and draw attention to women’s needs in remote areas of Sindh and Punjab provinces in the south and east of the country. Paiman Alumni Trust is working in Pakhtoonkhaw Province (north), while HOPE is taking care of women and their families in Azad Kashmir (North West).

The PAIMAN Alumni Trust is providing dried food rations and distributing cooked food as well as clean drinking water. Take a look at some selected examples from PAIMAN’s list (updated 20th September 2010).

The Motherland Flood Relief campaign of Aurat provides concrete help such as sending volunteers to the Shah Faisal Colony where a group of 50 women are staying with 30 other flood victims and distributing cartons of relief goods. Each carton contains: