The devastating floods in Pakistan have so far killed 12,000 people and displaced a further 33 million.
A third of the country – the size of the UK – is under water and a million homes have been damaged or destroyed.
The UN’s secretary general Antonio Guterres has urged the world to come to Pakistan’s aid. I am shocked and dismayed at the sluggish help from the international community.
I understand that many people think of Pakistan as a country where terrorists are bred, that it has one of the worst human rights records around and how it aligns itself with anti-west sentiments.
Being of Pakistani heritage myself, I too have taken the country to task by writing about many of the issues.
So I can understand that if you have never been to the country and base your understanding of the culture only from what you read online or in the papers why you may not want donate to the Pakistani flood appeal.
You may not relate to people who don’t look like you or share your culture or religion, but I urge you not to let your differences stop you from supporting men, women and children experiencing immense trauma. When it comes to their suffering, they are just like you and me.
Before I travelled the whole length of Pakistan in 2007, and eventually adopted my daughter from Karachi in 2011, I too had very negative opinions about the country. But once there, I realised how we have stereotyped a whole nation based on the actions of a few.
I experienced first-hand the kindness and generosity of ordinary people. I admired the female activists working tirelessly to call out misogyny and violation of women’s human rights.
I immersed myself in the rich culture that produces some of the best food, fashion and arts in the world. I truly connected with my roots and for the first time became proud of my heritage.
I cannot sit by and watch Pakistan’s vulnerable people suffer, so I am supporting a Nottingham-based charity, Muslim Hands, which is helping flood victims on the ground.
While we prepare for our own enormous challenges this winter in the UK, we must not ignore the plight of Pakistan. The country contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gas emissions but yet, every year keeps climbing up the ladder of climate vulnerability.
The UK is in the top five countries that produce the most carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming and hence climate change.
Our actions lead to others suffering. The least we can do is come to their aid in their moment of need. Please donate at muslimhands.org.uk.
