Pakistani-Canadians desperate to contact families

Pakistani-Canadians in Ottawa are desperately trying to contact relatives in the flooded areas of Pakistan, where at least 1,400 people have been killed by the rising water.

Akram Khan, who lives in west-end Ottawa, has family in Nowshera, about 150 kilometres northwest of Islamabad, an area that's been hit hard by torrential rains.

Khan said Monday he has been able to speak to some family members in Pakistan, but others are still unaccounted for. He said it's the worst flood in recent memory.

"They told us that there's shortages of food and clean water in some places, not everywhere, but clean water especially the people who are stranded they don't have any clean water," Khan said.

Khan's sister Naheed said she left her home in Nowshera just last month.

"My own home where I came from, the roof is down on the floor," she said. "If they come back there is no house, no food, nothing, no dishes, no bed, nothing," she said.

Khan hopes aid organizations on the ground will be able to do reach his relatives.

Sending money

This week Human Concern International (HCI)is sending $50,000 to Pakistan.

The executive director of HCI, Kaleem Akhtar, said more money is on the way.

"The personnel there on the ground, so as long as we know what they we want us to send, we can channel them right away, and then the items can be procured and provided to the victims as soon as possible," Akhtar said.

He said additional donations would help them provide aid such as packages of food and clean water.

As a member of Ottawa's Pakistani-Canadian community, the flood is affecting Akhtar on a personal level.

"The images are so disturbing, so devastating, and have devastating impact on the people that have come from there," he said.

"What they need is money," according to Sallah Hamdani, executive director of Islamic Relief Canada.

"They need money in order to buy supplies on the ground," he said.