Message from the chancellor regarding Pakistan flooding
Members of the UW–Madison community,
The immense human tragedy unfolding in flood-ravaged Pakistan is unimaginable in its magnitude.
Floodwaters last month inundated a large swath of Pakistan, killing more than 1,600 people and affecting an estimated 20 million people in that nation. People have lost homes, family members and livelihoods, and the Pakistani people face a massive and costly rebuilding effort. The social, economic and health implications of the flooding are vast.
For us, as an international university with a global reach, these overseas tragedies resonate with students, faculty and staff. Because of that, we’re asking the university community to consider lending its support to the ongoing relief efforts. The crisis calls for a major international response to aid those struggling with the widespread after-effects of this disaster.
A number of international relief organizations are working to help the people of Pakistan at this time of urgent need. They range from UNICEF to the International Committee of the Red Cross to Oxfam to AmeriCares to the United Nations World Food Programme and many others.
The U.S. Department of State has established the Pakistan Relief Fund to provide support for relief and recovery operations. More information about this effort is available at http://www.state.gov/pakistanrelief/
As part of the state department’s effort, donations to the fund can also be made by text messaging the word “FLOOD” to 27722, which will charge $10 to a cell-phone bill. Standard text-messaging and data rates apply.
Here on campus, you might also consider supporting relief efforts in a different way by applying your time and talents or through a campus activity. If so, please respond to this email with details so that your efforts might be publicized. Additionally, please visit the Pakistani Students Association’s Web site at http://pakistan.rso.wisc.edu for a list of events being planned on campus.
Thank you for your time, your caring and your generosity.
Chancellor Biddy Martin
Muhammad Shoaib, President of Pakistani Students Association
Tags: international