Dr Talat Pasha, Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Assistant Programme Director for Goodwill and and Understanding, reports from Karachi.

With many children still recovering from last year’s devastating floods, up to 2.5 million children in Sindh have now been affected by the unusually heavy monsoon rains and floods that first hit Pakistan in August. In Sindh alone, the floods have killed over 220 people, damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes and displaced more than 1.8 million people, according to the United Nations.

I think everybody knows of the terrible situation in Pakistan. During the catastrophic 2010 floods, millions were displaced across the country and an estimated 2,000 people died. Sindh was one of the worst affected regions.  The monsoon rains of 2011 have set back the recovery effort.

Now the mass exodus of people towards safer areas has caused another set of problems. Many live under open skies, vulnerable to the never ending monsoons. Southern Province of Sindh (where Karachi is situated) has been the worst hit and has been at the mercy of the unpredictability of the monsoon season  with frequent spells of  thunder and rain creating more problems for these poor people who are hungry, thirsty, without medical aid or shelter.

Pakistan has been requesting the help of the International community. The trust factor has slowed down the process and the donations are slow in coming. But please let this not stop you from helping the internally displaced persons. Many children are being born in tents and railway stations. Many are dying of gastroenteritis. Ironically though there is water everywhere, but children get safe drinking water rarely and so end up drinking the flood waters which are unsafe for consumption.

Each citizen of Pakistan, young or old has risen to the occasion. We are working day and night for our country men and women. Please hold our hands and help us. Donate generously!

SIGBI/UNICEF New Partnership Project: SOROPTIMISTS FOR PAKISTAN APPEAL

Calling all Soroptimists throughout the Federation to work with our partners UNICEF and raise desperately needed funds to help in Pakistan’s recovery after the terrible floods

£30 could help provide 130 sachets of Oral Rehydration Salts to treat dehydration in severely malnourished children,.

£50 could provide 5 families with safe drinking water.

£30 could immunise 30 children against deadly diseases.

£170 could provide one ―School-in-a-box kit containing basic education supplies for at least 40 children during times of crisis.

All members can donate to this Appeal online—the form can be found at https://www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/pakistan_soroptimists/

Members can also send cheques in GBP sterling, payable to UNICEF UK to: Soroptimists for Pakistan, UNICEF UK, 2 Kingfisher House, Woodbrook Crescent, Billericay, CM12 0EQ. Please send details of club and contact name and address, and mark "Soroptimists for Pakistan".

Click here to read the most recent September newsletter from Pakistan. Shot by Warrick Page in some of the worst-hit districts of Sindh, these are among the first images of children and families coping with the rising floodwaters and the destruction it has brought. Taken between 10-15 September 2011 – All photos © UNICEF Pakistan/2011/Warrick Page