DEARBORN — About $480,000 was raised for Pakistan flood victims during a fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn on Oct. 24. The Pakistan floods began July 2010 after heavy monsoon rains hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

According to statistics from Islamic Relief-USA dating back to September, more than 17 million people have been affected; six million have been left homeless and 1.7 million acres of farmland and more than one million homes are now destroyed.

Pakistan native Saleem Siddiqui, who has worked to raise awareness locally about the floods, says the number of victims affected is now 20 million and deaths have reached 3,000.

 The plight of the flood victims is expected to worsen as coming snow may demolish the tents that have been set up to replace destroyed homes. Siddiqui said only one province in Pakistan has heavy winters, while others are lighter. 

Siddiqui says water is the most essential resource in Pakistan now. “People tell us ‘don’t bring us medicine and food, we need water’,” Siddiqui said.  The death rate is increasingly high due to diseases caused by the contaminated water.

Flood victims turn to the poisonous waters to bathe and drink. According to Anwar Ahmed Kitan of Islamic Relief-USA many victims have nothing to use besides the dirty water which soon may be increasingly hard to access as it becomes frozen in winter.

The fundraiser included Democratic candidate for Governor Virg Bernero, Congressman John Conyers, candidate for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Texas Congresswoman Shelia Jackson and candidate for Michigan Attorney General Democrat David Leyton. 

 The event was hosted by Zaman International, Islamic Relief, Edhi Foundation and the Human Development Foundation.  To make a donation visit www.islamicreliefUSA.org.