Hamilton, Brantford groups gather supplies, money for Pakistan floods

A region in Pakistan that is home to nearly the same amount of people as all of Canada are still feeling the effects of a disastrous flood earlier this month.

With many parts of Southern Pakistan still underwater, the area’s roughly 33 million residents find themselves in troubling conditions.

1,486 people have been killed, sandstorms bash the millions that are left homeless, food is growing scarce and now water-borne diseases are spreading.

Members of the local Pakistani community like Brantford pharmacist Salah Haddin are going the extra mile to help. Haddin is flying to the country’s capital Karachi where they will deliver 170kg of medical supplies.

Hamilton’s local Muslim community is also raising funds. So far they have raised around $50,000.

The Trudeau government announced that it would match donations sent to a dozen agencies up to $3 million.

Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Guelph Madhur Anand says the floods in Pakistan are the textbook results of climate change.

Anand says more countries particularly poor ones and those already prone to extreme weather should expect similar events

However, Anand says she’s optimistic that humans can make an impact.

“We have to move beyond fossil fuels, there’s no question about that. We need to clear the way for clean energy… There’s so many things that we can be doing, and it will have a big effect if we do it correctly,” Anand said.

You can donate towards Pakistan relief at the Hamilton Mosque website or Islamic Relief Canada.