“I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past I have visited the scenes of many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this."

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon

Thousands of people have been killed by recent massive floods in Pakistan, which have washed away millions of hectares of crops, submerged villages, destroyed roads and bridges, and spread disease among survivors. While the disaster does not appear to be getting the press in the United States that the Haitian earthquakes did, its scope and impact is no less dire, and it is receiving worldwide attention and support.

If you are looking for information on the disaster and how to help, here are a few sites to visit:

• One Response Pakistan - A portal to humanitarian resources and news related to the disaster; managed by the UN/OCHA
• BBC Special Reports: Pakistan Floods - News and reports related to the floods
• US Department of State - Site includes press releases, footage, fact sheets and a list of ways to give
• American Red Cross - Has a fund set aside specifically for Pakistan Disaster Relief and Development
• UNICEF - UNICEF's fund to support flood victims
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Contains reports and data on the disaster and response efforts.

Check out the FTC's guide to avoiding charity fraud.

Need to know more about Pakistan?  Try these resources instead of Wikipedia:

• Background Note: Pakistan - Compiled by the US Department of State; a brief encyclopedic description of the geography and history of Pakistan
• Visit our Databases Page and go to the World Book Discover Encyclopedia for a more detailed country description

Recommended Reading:

Three Cups of Tea - Also available in a Young Reader's Edition, this book describes one man's humanitarian efforts building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pictures used with permission:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfid/4856605878/  / http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnystiles/7727038/