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"Islamic Relief are doing a phenomenal job and from visiting
their operations in Pakistan myself, I am inspired by their dedication to those
who have been affected by the floods. I commend them for the work that they have
done and continue to do in these most challenging circumstances."
Watch the full report on ITV
Disappointed by the international response to the catastrophe in Pakistan and finding
it impossible to just sit at home and do nothing, Dragon’s Den celebrity James Caan
sidelined his busy schedule and set about making plans to assist in the aid
work himself.
After receiving an update from Islamic Relief’s UK Director Jehangir Malik and CEO
Saleh Saeed on the challenges they faced on their visit to Pakistan, James attended
the charity’s Special Iftar Gathering which was dedicated to highlighting the plight
of the flood victims. There, along with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
and Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, James
pledged his support to the terrific work Islamic Relief was doing on the ground
in Pakistan.
However, itching to personally make an impact, he decided to fly out to his
homeland himself and help in the relief work which is currently struggling under
the huge weight of the catastrophe. Writing a cheque or raising funds domestically
has never been enough for him. In 2009, he visited the slums in Kenya with his fellow
Dragons, and when he visited Bosnia, he was so deeply affected, that he adopted
an entire village and provided food for one year.
Scale of Tragedy
Once in Pakistan, James was utterly shocked by the scale of the tragedy. Everywhere
he looked, entire villages and farms were submerged in water. Buildings, bridges
and roads had completely collapsed and were now just rubble. Where the people of
Pakistan used to have a roof over their head, all they had now was the sky.
Over 20 million people have been affected by the disaster. They have lost their
lives, their homes, their families, their livelihoods. And yet as aid is being delivered
to them through any means possible, the survivors face a new menace - waterborne
diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea, which threaten to bring about a second wave
of death.
Providing Food and Shelter
Islamic Relief has assisted some 40,000 flood survivors in Pakistan with temporary
shelter and food. James Caan visited their site In Nowshera, where a camp had been
set up for 6,000 people. Islamic Relief was working tirelessly to provide the victims
with food, accommodation and most importantly, clean, fresh water with the use of
filtration systems and tankers. James got hands-on himself, as he purchased a truck
and organised food packages of rice, lentils, oil, sugar, salt and biscuits which
benefited thousands of people. He also bought malaria, cholera, and diarrhoea tablets
and distributed all of these supplies to the desperate and needy sufferers.
Find out about the Ramadan Launch with Nick Clegg
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Glamorgan Cricket and Islamic Relief Raise Funds
for Pakistan
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