Buildings collapsing as if they were made of sand, cities devastated by water and mud, desperate families who have lost everything and the incessant calculation of the authorities, increasing the number of deaths every hour. These are the consequences of terrible floods affecting pakistan and that have already caused more than 1,000 deaths in the Sindh and Balochistan regions. Pakistani immigrants residing in Catalonia do not stop seeing these distressed images through their screens. “We had to do something to help,” he insists. Raja Shafiq Kayanipresident of one of the entities that is working to get humanitarian aid to the most devastated areas.
“This is a flood out of the ordinary,” insisted Shafiq Kayane. He is responsible for the Societat Cultural Pakcselona, an entity that has been trying to bridge the gap between Catalan and Pakistani cultures for more than 10 years. “As soon as we saw the images and read the news of what was happening we thought… we can’t stay with our hands crossedShafiq continues, stunned to see how long the country is taking to respond to those affected.
The idea of sending humanitarian aid arose in a bar on Avinguda del Paral lel in Barcelona due to the impotence of seeing the tragedy on the mobile screen and not being able to do anything. “We were three friends: I made a donation of 200 euros, another friend of 200 more and a third of 50 euros. I published it on Facebook and on social networks saying that whoever wanted help could make a financial contribution and people have left adding up. I give my word that we are going to buy food, hygiene products and everything that the local NGOs need so that these people can continue“, explains Shafiq. He also denies the Government of his country. “The embassy and the consulate in Barcelona have taken many days to tell us how we can help… you can’t trust the government there, They have not considered the area as catastrophic and do not allow international NGOs to act,” laments the president of the association.
From Leon to Valencia
Related news
In just three days they have already raised 18,000 euros. But on the last afternoon they already exceed 20,000 euros of financing. “People from all over the world are sending us money: from León they sent us 2,000 euros, also from Zaragoza, Valencia. We receive financial contributions from all over Spain“, details Shafiq. “People need to do something and trust us,” he explains.
His is not the only association that is trying to raise funds to help the victims of the floods. “They have also started a campaign of donations taxi drivers and women’s associations. All Pakistanis in Barcelona have mobilized”, he explains. He points out, however, that among the residents of Catalonia there are still no known victims of the tragedy.” Most of us who live here are from Punjab, but floods are happening in other regions. At least I don’t know of anyone who has affected him or has relatives affected. But it’s our country and they need us,” she clarifies.