BUNER: In a powerful demonstration of solidarity, Chinese and Pakistani youth volunteers have joined forces to provide critical aid to communities devastated by the recent catastrophic floods in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The initiative comes in response to relentless monsoon rains that have battered the country since late June, causing widespread destruction, particularly in low-lying and rural areas.
Provincial authorities reported on August 17 that floods had claimed at least 323 lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone, with more than 150 people still missing. The national death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 657, underscoring the severity of the ongoing natural disaster.
The China-Pak Youth Exchange Community, in collaboration with the Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation, Federation of Wenzhou Blazing Youth and Asia Academy of Philanthropy, has formed the “Relief Efforts for the Floods in Pakistan: Asian Volunteers in Action.” From August 19, these volunteers are working tirelessly in Swat and Buner districts to provide essential support to the affected communities.
Relief operations include multiple essential components to address immediate humanitarian needs. Volunteers have set up food distribution points, providing cooked meals to approximately 1,500 people daily, a program scheduled to continue for two weeks. Medical assistance is being delivered through mobile teams with essential medicines and basic medical equipment to provide urgent care to the injured and sick.
Temporary medical camps are also being set up, each capable of serving 300 patients daily for three days, while health awareness sessions and distribution of preventive medicines are also being conducted to control potential disease outbreaks.
The relief mission was widely welcomed by local communities and officials, who praised the timely and well-organized response. “In the coming stages of our relief work, we will establish close collaboration with local meteorological departments and relevant authorities in Pakistan,” stated Ma Bin, the head of volunteer coordinators.
“This partnership will enable us to access real-time weather data and forecasts, providing crucial information for decision-making in our ongoing rescue operations.” –Agencies
