SPECIAL REPORT
Crisis in Pakistan
Flooding affects one-fifth of country's land, leaves millions homeless
Last Updated: Monday, October 4, 2010 | 4:50 PM ET
CBC News
Watch now
Featured Videos
All video »To donate, visit:
Partial list of Canadian agencies (federal government will match donations made by Oct. 3, 2010)
- • Canadian Red Cross
- • Oxfam Canada
- • World Vision Canada
- • Save the Children Canada
- • Care Canada
- • SOS Children's Villages
- • Doctors Without Borders/MSF
- • UNICEF Canada
- • International Development and Relief Foundation
- • Development and Peace
- • Canadian Lutheran World Relief
- • Islamic Relief Canada
- • Human Concern International
- • The Humanitarian Coalition
- • The United Church of Canada
- • CHF
- • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
- • Focus Humanitarian Assistance
- Eligibility requirements, if you want your Pakistan donation matched by federal government
- CRA list of registered Canadian charities, to confirm whether your donation will be matched
Global agencies (donations won't be matched by Canadian government)
The situation: Floods, triggered by heavier-than-normal monsoon rains, began in northwest Pakistan in late July. The waters spread — affecting 160,000 square kilometres, one-fifth of the country's land — before they started to recede in late August.
To date, more than 1,750 people have been killed and 21 million have been affected. Eight to 10 million people still need daily help and roughly six million people have been left homeless, according the United Nations.
Pakistan's president says it will take at least three years for the country to recover and has appealed for the world's help.
Canada has pledged $40.5 million in aid so far. The federal government has also pledged to match, dollar for dollar, money raised by Canadians for relief operations made by Oct. 3. Canadian charities are now tallying up their totals of eligible donations.
How you can help
The Humanitarian Coalition is accepting donations for Pakistan flood relief.
- Citizen Byte: Lindsay Gladding on helping with the flood relief
Latest stories
- Canadians donate millions for Pakistani relief
- Oct. 4: While fundraisers called donations "good" and "solid," there was still some disappointment. "We still think we could have done more," said Kevin McCort, Care Canada's president.
- Deadline for matching Pakistan donations nears
- Oct. 3: The federal government's program to match donations from Canadians for victims of Pakistan's floods ends at midnight.
- Pakistan needs to aid flood relief: U.S. envoy
- Sept. 16: The world will only be able to fund about 25 per cent of the tens of billions needed to rebuild Pakistan after the floods, and its government will have to make up the shortfall, the U.S. envoy to the country warns.
- Canada adds $7.5M to Pakistan flood relief
- Sept. 14: The money will go towards logistics and air transport capacity for the humanitarian response, via the UN World Food Program, the federal government says. It will also be spent on providing emergency relief supplies to help up to 7,000 families.
- Timeline: News stories by day
Canadian aid efforts
Here is how the Canadian government has responded to major international disasters in recent years:
2010
Pakistan floods: The government pledges $40.5 million in humanitarian aid and announces it will match individual Canadians' donations to relief groups.
Haiti earthquake: The government provides $150 million in humanitarian assistance. The government also matches $220 million in donations from individual Canadians. Half of those matching funds are included in Canada's March announcement of an additional $400 million of development aid and debt relief.
2008
China earthquake: The federal government matches $30 million in individual Canadians' donations after the Sichuan quake. The government also donates $1 million directly to the Red Cross.
Burma cyclone: The government matches the $11.6 million donated by Canadians, in addition to giving $500,000 to the Red Cross for aid after Cyclone Nargis.
2005
Kashmir earthquake: Both Liberal and Conservative governments contribute approximately $130 million over two years, including $28 million from matching funds.
2004
Asian tsunami: The Liberal government announced $425 million in humanitarian aid and reconstruction funds in January 2005. Of that, $213 million came from matching donations of individual Canadians.
Source: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Drag the slider up in this interactive photograph to see Pakistan's Indus River as it appeared on Aug. 18, 2009. Pull the slider down to see the flooded region on Aug. 17, 2010, a year later. (NASA).Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Athens burns as Greece bailout passed
- Riots engulfed central Athens and at least 10 buildings went up in flames in mass protests late Sunday as lawmakers prepared for a parliamentary vote on harsh austerity measures aimed at keeping the country solvent. more »
- Quebec town 'heartbroken' after killing of woman, sisters
- A small Quebec town is in mourning Sunday after a Quebec man was charged with killing his nieces and his mother, who were found dead in their family home. more »
- Whitney Houston's body set for autopsy
- Investigators worked Sunday to piece together what killed Whitney Houston as the music industry's biggest names prepared for a Grammy Awards show that will undoubtedly feel as much like a memorial as a celebration. more »
- Musicians who died before their time
- The growing list of musicians who have died young. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- Athens burns as Greece bailout passed
- Riots engulfed central Athens and at least 10 buildings went up in flames in mass protests late Sunday as lawmakers prepared for a parliamentary vote on harsh austerity measures aimed at keeping the country solvent. more »
- Child rescued from Kosovo avalanche that killed 9
- Rescuers have pulled a child alive from the rubble of a house flattened by a massive avalanche that killed both her parents and at least seven of her relatives in a remote mountain village in southern Kosovo. more »
- Italy cruise ship fuel being pumped out
- Underwater pumping operations began Sunday to remove some of the 1.9 million litres of fuel aboard the Costa Concordia, officials said, nearly a month after the cruise ship ran aground off the Italy's Tuscan coast. more »
- Syria observer mission head steps down
- The Sudanese head of the Arab League's observer mission to Syria has resigned, as the group was to consider a proposal to revive its suspended mission, officials said. more »
Dispatches »
- Inside Egyptian military's business web Feb. 10, 2012 1:51 PM When it got out of the business of war with Israel, Egypt's military got into the business of business. Over and under the table; on and off the books. Even using conscripts as cheap labour. CBC's Margaret Evans found shopkeeping generals rather reluctant to talk shop though.
Connect Newsroom Blog
Siege in Syria, Ship Rescue & The Pickton Inquiry Feb. 9, 2012 8:08 PM We'll talk to a Syrian-American doctor tonight about whether the Assad regime is using medicine as a weapon.
- Pop queen Whitney Houston dies at 48
- Whitney Houston's body set for autopsy
- Athens burns as Greece bailout passed
- Carleton University confirms death of student
- Ultimate Tazer Ball combines shock and soccer
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- Whitney Houston's death sparks chorus of grief
- Quebec town 'heartbroken' after killing of woman, sisters
- Quebec man charged with killing mother, 2 nieces
