Appeal for financial assistance for flood affected Pakistani Journalists

Appeal for financial assistance for flood affected Pakistani Journalists

You might be aware that Pakistan is passing through very hard times as it has already been under great pressure and threat because of the open war launched by the Taliban against peaceful citizens especially the media persons. However, to the bad luck almost 70 percent of the area of the country is hit by the worst ever devastating floods which is unprecedented in the history of floods of the sub continent for over 150 years.

Devastating floods, accompanied by torrential rains, have claimed lives of more than 1683 people and 8487 have been injured while 6374 villages have been destroyed, 81187 heads of cattle have been perished, and more than 9,893,817 acres of cultivated land has been affected.

Not only this, the entire population of Pakistan sustaining unbelievable and unbearable economic consequences, shortage of fruits, vegetables and other eatables has been swept by a flood of high prices.

Non-availability of various commodities is also affecting livestock besides economically crippling a large population living in the flood affected areas. Initial reports reveal that more than 20 million people have become homeless and economically ruined by floods. More than 6 million victims need aid for survival. How much damage has been caused by the floods can be judged from the words of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who during his visit to the affected areas said that “I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”.

In such circumstances, the media persons are more severely affected as they are already underpaid as their salaries were not increased since 1^st July 1996 and since then prices of all commodities have gone up from 400 to 600 per cent without any relief from media owners.

A female journalist Asma Anwar of Noshehra died due to floods. The latest reports reaching our Secretariat revealed that houses of more than 287 journalists were completely damaged in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Rojhan, Sohbatpur, Uta Mohammad, Gandakha, Rojhan Jamali, Dera Allahyar, Makran, Sakardu, Gilgit, Baltistan, Khaplu, Mehdiabad, Kalam, Swat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mehdiabad, Swabi, Bajaur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Malakand, Chitral, Karak, Tank, Hairpur, Dir, Takhtbai, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Liyyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Jhang, Sargodha, Lodhran, Sargodha, Ghotki, Sukkur, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu, Nawabshah, Thatta, Jampur, Karpur, and Sanghar, Jacoabad and Hyderabad.

It may be noted that media persons in Pakistan are passing through tough times and are being terrorized by Taliban and fanatics and the floods have further aggravated their miseries. All those media-persons who were dislocated, affected, killed or injured and whose houses were completely or partially damaged need compensation. The loss of human life and infrastructure is colossal and miseries of the affected are unbelievable.

For assistance and rehabilitation of the media persons we have established a victims fund an account titled “Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Account No. 25574 National Bank ofPakistan, Corporate Branch, Super Market, Islamabad, Pakistan” has been opened.

We appeal to you in the name of the humanity to come forwarded with liberal and generous assistance of the calamity hit journalists ofPakistan.

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk