On June 23rd and 24th, 2007, coastal areas of Pakistan were hit by tropical cyclone Yemyin, packing winds of up to 80 miles per hour (130 kmph) roared over the Arabian Sea to the south of Karachi and hit the coast of the southwestern province of Baluchistan, dumping torrential rain over Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The torrential rains and flash floods have played havoc in these areas and numbers of casualties is rising day after day. Besides that flash floods and torrential rains in parts of NWFP had a devastating affect on the local population as well.
An estimated 1.2 million people across Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP have become homeless and have been badly affected. In Balochistan alone the toll of affected people has reached an estimated number of 0.8 million.
Worst Affected Kech (Turbat), Gawadar, Jhal Magasi,
Naseerabad/Jaffarabad, Sibi, Bola and Thatta
Badly Affected Kharan, Washik, Noshki, Khuzdar and Swat
Partially Affected Mustung, Dalbandin, Qila Abdullah and Kalat
SPO Pakistan, is operating in all the above mentioned districts through approximately 350 partner organizations and 16 Civil Society Networks (CSNs). Currently, SPO operations for relief are being managed through SPO field offices situated in Kech (Turbat), Naseerabad and Sibi, whereas, Hyderabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad offices are undertaking planning, networking and coordination activities. (Donations can be made directly via bank draft, or you may also make a donation directly to PakSEF Cyclone campaign which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization registered in the United States. PakSEF will accordingly forward the funds to SPO Pakistan.)
Hidaya Foundation, Hidaya’s response has been swift; from the strength of 50 Hidaya employees in Pakistan, 80% are involved in the relief effort. As of July 19: Over 249+ metric tons have been purchased and are being distributed costing approx. $240,000+.