Who cares about Pakistan?

We do. From ABC

On Friday 27 August, ABC Radio networks including ABC Local, triple j, NewsRadio and Radio National joined up to help UNICEF Australia raise money to help victims of flooding in Pakistan.

Heavy monsoonal rains in July - the heaviest in over 80 years - caused flooding on an unprecedented scale.

According to the United Nations:

• 2,000 people have died, though this toll may rise as areas cut off by flooding are contacted
• 20 million people are homeless or displaced
• 1 million homes have been destroyed
• 17 million acres of cropland have been submerged
• 200,000 livestock lost

The effects will be felt for years to come: farmers may not be able to plant this season, leading to food shortages, and infrastructure damages for highways, railways and public buildings alone are now predicted to run over US$4 billion.

UNICEF Australia and ABC Radio - which reaches more than a quarter of our population through its various networks - set a goal of raising $1 million for the flood appeal, and Australians responded.

The response was overwhelming, with UNICEF needing to set up a second phone number to take donations.

The target was surpassed at $2.3 million as reported by UNICEF.

See ABC Radio how to help page to see how you can help if you are in Australia. I actually donated through Australian Red Cross.

In the United States, see State Department.