NEW DELHI – A telethon organised by Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday night raised five billion rupees (about US$ 22.7 million) within three hours to help the country’s flood victims.
“I want to thank the people of Pakistan, especially our overseas Pakistanis, for donating so generously last night. In the three hours of our telethon we had pledges of Rs 5 billion,” Imran said on Tuesday.
Pakistanis living in Malaysia were among those who donated to help the victims of the devastating floods caused by unusually heavy monsoon rains.
Meanwhile, the United Nations launched a flash appeal of US$160 million for immediate relief activities to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in Pakistan.
“Pakistan is awash in suffering. The Pakistani people are facing a monsoon on steroids – the relentless impact of epochal levels of rain and flooding,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video message.
“Millions are homeless, schools and health facilities have been destroyed, livelihoods are shattered, critical infrastructure wiped out and people’s homes and dreams have washed away,” Guterres said.
Early estimates show the floods have caused a damage of US$10 billion.
