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In June 2007, devastating floods affected 2 million people in Pakistan. More than 250,000 people were forced to flee their homes in the western province of Baluchistan, the most severely affected area. Large concrete bridges, roads, homes and schools were washed away. Islamic Relief ’s offices in the area were ready to respond to the floods.

Muhammad Yaqub, a local resident, described how heavy rain and water came into their mud brick homes. They picked up their children and ran into the few higher areas they could find. For twelve hours they waited, huddled with their children until the torrent of raging water slowed to become a river. They waded back to what was left of their homes and picked up a few blankets. They could not drink the local water since it had been contaminated. Those who had money ordered water from water tanks, those who were poor had to walk for hours to get water. In the month after the floods had washed away their homes, the families received a small food package and tent provided by Islamic Relief. Before the tent arrived, the family was spending their days in temperatures reaching up to 120° F, sitting under any tree that still remained.

In the Kolan area of Kharan, where there were once mosques, schools and homes for thousands of people, there was now a barren plain. Islamic Relief invited Pakistani cricket player Shahid Afridi to visit the area.

Afridi participated in the distribution of $100,000 worth of tents, blankets, monthly food parcels and kitchen sets. People stood for hours in the heat to receive their emergency supplies. Some froze when they saw Afridi, the famous cricket player, distributing supplies by hand to them. They never dreamt of meeting him in normal circumstances and felt that the world was ignoring their current plight. As he visited the devastated areas, hundreds of people followed his car in cars, motorcycles, bicycles and many by foot. His trip was short but showed that the world had not forgotten those effected by the flood during their time of need.

Afridi will be visiting the United States in February 2008 to raise awareness for the humanitarian needs in Baluchistan.