DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE urges Canadians to give for Pakistan on World
Humanitarian Day

MONTREAL, Aug. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - As devastating floods continue to ravage Pakistan, the organization DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is urging Canadians to make a donation for flood victims in honour of World Humanitarian Day on August 19^th, 2010.

World Humanitarian Day commemorates the dedication of humanitarian aid workers to provide assistance to those in crisis and DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE wants to take this opportunity to thank its local partners in Pakistan and around the world for their courage and compassionate action to get aid to where it is needed most.

"We are supporting local groups in Pakistan, whose staff and volunteers are working around the clock to get aid to people. These are people that are seeing their own homes completely overwhelmed with water, who are receiving little support from their government, but who continue to forge ahead to make sure aid is getting out there," says Michael Casey, Executive Director of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.

The government of Pakistan now estimates that 20 million people have been affected by the floods, making the disaster comparable to other recent humanitarian events like the Tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is part of the Caritas Internationalis network, a worldwide federation of Catholic organizations fighting against poverty and injustice. In Pakistan, local partner Caritas Pakistan has strong ties with local communities and quickly mobilized to distribute emergency relief in the worst-affected areas. 

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has contributed $50,000 to their emergency relief program but says that it is not enough.

"Caritas Pakistan estimates that at least $5 million is needed just to get water, shelter, food and other emergency needs to people. That doesn't even include what will be needed to rebuild houses, roads and bridges or to help people regain their livelihoods," explains Casey.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE hopes that this year on World Humanitarian Day, Canadians across the country will show their solidarity towards the people of Pakistan during this crisis.

Donations can be made by telephone [phone]), online at www.devp.org or by sending a cheque made out to DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE and indicating Pakistan Floods to:

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE,1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. West. 3rd Floor, Montreal  QC  H3G 1T7

For further information:

Kelly Di Domenico, Communications Officer, 514 257-8710 ext. 365,[email protected]