She is helpless. Approximately one-fifth of her country is underwater from the monsoon floods over the past few weeks. She has nothing. Out of 166 million people, 40-50 million Pakistanis live in poverty. For the poor now suffering from the deluge, even the meager existence they had has been washed away. Devoid of any hope, the mother in the photograph asked reporters to take her child in order that he (or she) may have at least some semblance of a future. As mothers instinctively protect their children out of the sinews of maternity, the giving up of a child by a mother is unquestionably the most desperate sign of any society or circumstance..
The flood has ravaged the lives of at least 17 million people, and most of them have been waiting for food and medicine for days in vain. One altruistic person from Karachi, who could not bear the suffering scenes of his countrymen any longer without taking action, brought a truck of supplies to the region and reported,
.
'People there are hungry and thirsty. There's no electricity, no gas, no water and no food supplies. Thousands of people come down from the mountain and stand in the sun for a whole day in order to get a bag of flour. People desperately need more food and more importantly, they need lady doctors. There are hundreds and thousands of women and children without a doctor. Kids were crying of pain, and mothers were begging me to bring them female doctors.'
.
If governments and the people of the world do not respond immediately with supplies, manpower and financial assistance, the 17 million that have survived thus far will experience more tragedy by living than dying.
.
We cannot allow that to happen.
.
Please consider making a donation to an NGO on the scene in the effected area of Pakistan today (see list below). A $10 pledge will be of great help.
.
A Few Aid Organizations in Pakistan
.
1) Doctors Without Borders - doctorswithoutborders.org
2) Save The Children - savethechildren.org
3) UNICEF - unicefusa.org
4) World Vision - worldvision.org
.
(Photo: A Pakistani woman offering her child to the Western press)
.
J Roquen