Dubai: All contributing to the relief efforts for the flood victims of Pakistan are being urged to avoid donating medicines which have passed their expiry date, a volunteer of Pakistan Association in Dubai (PAD) said.
Donations of old, dirty clothes are also to be avoided, a Pakistan Association in Dubai volunteer said.
"I am shocked to see expired medicines donated by some people and we are now checking the expiry date of each and every medicine to be sent to flood victims in Pakistan," said Mahine, who was leading a group of volunteers who were busy sorting out and packing clothes and medicines at the Pakistan Association in Dubai.
She said people should check the expiry dates of medicines and food items before dropping them at the association's flood relief camp. "We also need large number of volunteers to sort and pack relief goods," she said, standing amid a heap of donated items.
Earlier, PAD president Riaz Farooq Sahi said the response to the flood relief camp had been tremendous.
"We are touched by the overwhelming response as not only Pakistanis but other communities living in the UAE are also donating generously," he said.
The Sri Lankan Consulate General in Dubai gave a consignment of medicine yesterday plus assistance in cash and kind, donated by people of many nationalities.
Sahi said a team of eight PAD volunteers had been sent to Pakistan to distribute relief goods. "I urge people to donate cash because it is the fastest way to help hundreds of thousands of people trapped in floods," he urged.
The PAD is preparing food packages for families. Each package costs Dh500 and contains rice, flour, sugar, tea and other foods. It is enough for a family of five to survive for 15 to 20 days.
Sahi said all the wings of the association were contributing to the relief efforts. "The doctors' wing is going to set up 40 free medical camps in various flood-affected areas across the country," he said. Sahi urged the community to donate medical supplies, or volunteer for the medical camps.
Good response: Race against time
Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in Dubai has set a target to donate Dh500,000 to help the flood victims of Pakistan.
PBC President Tahir Schon told Gulf News that he had set a target of raising Dh500,000 from the PBC members and other Pakistani businessmen by August 15. "We have already collected more than half the money and will hopefully achieve our target soon," he said.
Schon, who has also toured the flood-affected areas, urged people to donate quickly because aid workers were running out of time to help the hundreds of thousands of flood victims waiting for help without any shelter.
To donate money and relief goods, please contact the Pakistan Association in Dubai: 04-3373632, 050-6317131.
Do you think enough is being done to help the people in Pakistan? Have you hadtrouble donating items? What is the best way to encourage people to help out?
