Emergency Relief

In times of crisis and disaster, a swift and effective response is critical to alleviate the sufferings and deliver immediate relief to affected communities. Dua Foundation’s Emergency Relief Program is committed to providing timely and effective assistance during crises, helping communities recover and rebuild with resilience and hope. This program is specifically designed to meet urgent needs and offer vital support during emergencies, ensuring vulnerable populations receive timely and impactful assistance.

Objectives

Immediate Assistance:The program aims to deliver essential supplies such as food, clean water, healthcare and shelter to those impacted by natural disasters, conflicts, or other emergencies.
Rapid Response:Utilizing a network of local and international partners, the program ensures a prompt and coordinated response to crises, minimizing delays in aid delivery.
Long-Term Recovery:Beyond immediate relief, the program supports recovery efforts by providing resources for rehabilitating and restoring essential services and infrastructure.

Key Components

Disaster Relief Supplies:The program distributes vital supplies, including food packages, water, hygiene kits and medical supplies to affected communities.
Medical Assistance:Emergency medical teams are deployed to provide healthcare services, including first aid, vaccinations and treatment for injuries and illnesses.
Shelter and Housing:Temporary shelters and housing solutions are offered to displaced families to ensure their safety and protection.
Psychosocial Support:Recognizing the trauma that emergencies can inflict, the program provides psychological support and counseling to help individuals cope with stress and loss.
Coordination and Logistics:Effective management of logistics and coordination with local authorities and humanitarian organizations ensures efficient distribution of aid and prevents duplication of efforts.

Major Initiatives

Corona

Soon after the onset of COVID-19, Dua Foundation got proactive in mitigating its disastrous impacts. With the aim to protect doctors and other medical staff, who were the frontline soldiers in this battle to combat the disease, the Foundation distributed precautionary and preventive gear, including N95 masks, gloves, surgical masks, safety goggles, gowns, face shields, inspection boxes and sanitizers to more than 50 public sector and charitable hospitals in Sindh and KPK. Through the outbreak of this epidemic, telemedicine – a helpline – was established to provide support and counseling to the affected patients, besides thermal guns, oxi-meters, oxygen cylinders, and other healthcare apparatus were provided to hospitals and private patients quarantined at homes. Dua Foundation also took care of the staff of graveyards in Karachi, individuals who were unfortunately neglected during this phase, and provided essential PPEs to safeguard them. Thermal guns and sanitizers were also provided in various schools of KPK and Sindh.

Flood Relief

Dua Foundation has established a well-equipped emergency task force to respond to floods, which includes first aid specialists, a dewatering unit for rain-related emergencies, and a spraying team to combat outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. Additionally, we are fully prepared to address and respond to potential epidemics, ensuring timely and effective action.

Disaster Relief

We also work in close collaboration with the city management in responding to weather-related incidents such as storms, urban flooding, fires, and other emergencies. Our goal is to establish a training institute focused on rescue, relief, and disaster risk reduction, specifically aimed at equipping the youth residing in various cities of Pakistan.

Heatwave Relief

With Pakistan among the top countries which have been affected by global warming, heatwaves have increasingly become a regular phenomenon in Karachi, causing immense hardships for the citizens and even leading to fatalities in extreme cases. In June 2015, Karachi was affected by a severe heatwave – when temperature rose up to 45oC and the air was completely blocked – that killed over 3,000 people, majority of whom were the poor, the elderly, outdoor laborers, and the homeless. Half of those who died were women. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that heatwaves of similar or even higher magnitude, and for longer durations can hit the metropolis again. The Met Department thus issues regular advisory for people to increase their water intake, stay indoors, and not venture out unnecessarily in sun during heatwaves.

Dua Foundation believes that as responsible citizens, we cannot rely only on the government to initiate relief efforts, besides majority of the population belonging to marginalized communities cannot stay indoors for long as they need to go out to earn their livelihood. During heatwaves, the Foundation sets up water booths to rescue people during heatwaves and also provides emergency treatment to heatstroke victims.

How to Support?

Donations:Financial contributions are crucial for sustaining and expanding the program’s reach. Donations can be made online through Dua Foundation’s website.
Volunteering: We encourage individuals, interested in contributing their time and skills, to volunteer with the Foundation, supporting various aspects of the emergency relief efforts.
Partnerships:Organizations and businesses can partner with Dua Foundation to enhance the impact of the emergency relief program through collaboration and support.