ISLAMABAD: Meta Platforms, the multinational technology conglomerate that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp among other products and services, has announced a donation of Rs125 million to help communities impacted by floods in Pakistan.
Rains in Pakistan started in mid-June, triggering floods that have swept away entire villages, bridges and roads and left hundreds of thousands homeless. At one point, a third of the country’s territory was inundated with water. Authorities said on Tuesday the overall death toll had crossed 1,400.
So far, UN agencies and various countries, including the United States, have sent over 90 plane loads of aid.
The donation from Meta will support emergency aid, food, water, and sanitation and help children get back to school in the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
When the flooding began, Meta activated the Safety Check feature on Facebook, which allowed people to let friends and family know they were safe. A Crisis page was also established where people could use the Community Help feature to enable people to ask for and offer help from different communities.
“Pakistan is going through one of the worst natural disasters we have seen to date. Millions of people are affected and the entire nation is rallying to support them during this difficult time. We hope that our contributions help the communities impacted by the catastrophe and our thoughts are with these communities and families as they try to recover,” said Jordi Fornies, Director for Emerging Markets, Asia-Pacific at Meta.
Additionally, Meta’s ‘Data for Good’ activated its Disaster Maps program and is providing data to Pakistan’s regional response partners. One of those partners, CrisisReady (a collaboration between Direct Relief and Harvard University), has focused on combining data sources into situation reports being used daily by thousands of on-the-ground first responders.
“The torrential monsoon rains over the past weeks have damaged or completely washed away people’s houses, critically affecting millions of people, including children. With winter just weeks away in some parts of the country, we need urgent help to continue our relief efforts in Pakistan and support for children and their families. We express our gratitude to Meta for all the support,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of UNICEF USA.
Communities across various Meta-owned platforms have raised more than a million dollars for non-profits supporting flood relief efforts. Leading NGOs across the globe have also raised substantial amounts via Facebook and Instagram.
Meta’s donation will go to UNICEF, Hands, and Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA).
Commenting on the development, Baela Raza Jamil, CEO, ITA, said: “We will rehabilitate schools, ensure 2nd Chance Accelerated learning programs with life skills (psychosocial support, climate change and digital literacy), and provide hygiene and health with dignity kits. This is a comprehensive and inclusive approach to #BuildingBackBetter by reaching homes, communities, schools, parents, children, and especially adolescent girls and teachers embedded within government systems for effective emergency response and preparedness.”
Meta said it was continuously exploring further avenues to facilitate not just families in the devastated regions but also supporting NGOs and other causes in their efforts.
