The Pursuit of Harpyness » Pakistan http://www.harpyness.com As narrated by the most charming and vicious women on the internet Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:37:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Women Hit Hard by Pakistan Flood http://www.harpyness.com/2010/08/22/women-hit-hard-by-pakistan-flood/ http://www.harpyness.com/2010/08/22/women-hit-hard-by-pakistan-flood/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:00:52 +0000 SarahMC http://www.harpyness.com/?p=16731

Via Save the Children @ Flickr. Photo Credit: Jason Tanner

You wouldn’t know it by watching American media, but Pakistan has suffered what the United Nations called “the greatest humanitarian crisis in recent history.” Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rain have displaced millions and killed nearly two thousand people. Thousands more will perish as deadly diseases begin to spread through the displaced populations.

The government in Islamabad has admitted that cannot cope with such a catastrophe, but the international response has been lukewarm. … Radical Islamic groups are jockeying to fill the vacuum left by government incompetence and relative international indifference.

The disaster has destroyed roads, infrastructure, homes, crops and livestock. Women and girls face a cultural shock as they live in camps amongst unrelated men for the first time in their lives. Shmyalla Jawad visited a government camp with no bathing facility and was appalled by the horrific conditions she found there.

Many are wearing what they left home in and without being able to wash and women’s hygiene in particular has deteriorated. The situation is even worse for menstruating and pregnant women.

The people of Pakistan urgently need help to rebuild their lives and their health. If you are willing and able to contribute, here is a list of agencies that plan to provide relief.

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