Flood crises in Pakistan are continuing to threaten the lives of millions, with families risking dehydration amid a landscape that’s facing climate destruction. As part of Football for Peace’s Pakistan humanitarian crisis response, British Airways has teamed up with the charity to help deliver around 8 tonnes of clothing, food, and medical aid to help support families left adrift through devastating floods. The aim is to continually provide aid in the coming months.
Setting off from Heathrow Airport on Sunday, 25th September, the partnership is part of a long-term endeavour to help restore some normality to the lives of those who are simply unable to survive under threat of such natural destruction.
Forming part of Football For Peace’s Rehydrating The Earth campaign, charity founder and ex-Pakistan international footballer Kash Siddiqi is thrilled that the first leg of their campaign is finally underway.
Upon arrival in Islamabad, footballer Kash Siddiqi was greeted by Sohail Ali, SVP for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Dr Christian Turner, British Ambassador to Pakistan and then escorted by the former Governor of Punjab Mr Mohammed Sarwar and The Sarwar Foundation to hand deliver the aid across different provinces in Pakistan.
The donors for the first aid drop include Brent Council, Henley Homes, Noon Foods, Virnai Foods, Snow Leopards Technology, Amigos Burgers & Shakes. The project has also engaged with several high-profile supporters, Bacary Sagna former Manchester City and French International defender and Cherno Samba, ex-Gambia international and England U20 forward. Both have been among several volunteers helping to load cargo over the weekend and also in Dubai last week as part of the UAE Aid drive to Pakistan.
In the UK the team have worked from a carefully prepared warehouse organised and administered by Universal Air Express.
British Deputy High Commissioner, Andrew Dalgleish said: “British Airways has partnered with Football for Peace to bring in flood relief cargo to Pakistan. A great example of how UK businesses and NGOs are cooperating, alongside UK Government assistance and funds raised by the British public, to alleviate suffering, responding to immediate needs. A testament to the deep people-to-people links between the UK and Pakistan.”
British Airways’ involvement arrives with high praise from CEO Sean Doyle, who fully supports the aid drop as a crucial humanitarian response during impossible times. With BA’s loan of a return flight to ferry cargo to Pakistan (and to transport volunteers), Football for Peace’s campaign is in very safe hands.
Sohail Ali, SVP for Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific – British Airways says: ‘Supporting the people of Pakistan during this ongoing humanitarian crisis, is simply the right thing to do. We had to find a way to help on behalf of our colleagues and customers with ties to Pakistan.’
According to the Football for Peace Co-Founder Kash Siddiqi: “As a former Pakistan International Footballer, it breaks my heart to see the tragic disaster that Pakistan is facing. I have been working with the British Airways for several years and it’s monumental to have the leadership supporting efforts in providing aid to flood-hit families in Pakistan.”
“Our aid package drop is just the first of our short-term goals to help provide emergency food, water and supplies to people whose lives are literally falling apart.”
“Long-term, we aim to work with the government of Pakistan to help support more resilient water security across Pakistan. We’re committed to helping educate on climate destruction and to help rehydrate ecosystems. By mid-decade, statistics suggest that more than 1.8 billion people will face water scarcity as a result of land displacement and the rolling effects of climate change. We want affected families to be able to get back to happy, healthy lives without the threat of natural devastation.”
Former Punjab Governor and Glasgow Central MP Chaudry Mohammad Sarwar, meanwhile, is also highly supportive of the ongoing campaign, saying: “This first aid visit will change hundreds of lives for the better. In times such as these, we must all come together to share supplies and knowledge – in an attempt to fight back against natural destruction the likes of which we’ve ever known.”
The first aid drop heralds the ‘kick off’ of Football For Peace’s Rehydrating The Earth campaign, which is working to address the root cause of floods, fires, droughts and help increase communities climate resilience – though the power of football.
