Money collected in Oxford is being put to urgent use to help people affected by the Pakistan floods disaster.

So far more than £13,000 has been raised in the city and sent directly to one of the worst-hit regions to buy equipment, food and first aid supplies.

Oxford-based businessman Shaquat Quershi is one of a team of volunteers in Charsadda, a region in the west of the country which has been devastated.

Money raised from collections at mosques around the city has been sent to Mr Quershi, who then purchases and distributes the supplies.

Last night he said the money was making a real difference, but said more was needed.

He said: “I want to say many thanks to the generous donations from Oxford.

“What is undisputed here is the scale of the crisis. The floods destroyed or damaged a huge area, the size of the UK or Italy.

“The level of destruction is also unprecedented. So many families have lost everything; their homes, all contents and belongings, food, wells and livestock.

“Massive infrastructure damage has also occurred to roads, bridges, crops, schools and hospitals.”

More than 20 million people are thought to have been affected by the floods, with 1,600 killed.

Mr Quershi said many problems have only just started.

“Search and rescue is done, but there must be many corpses still buried in the huge amounts of debris and mud that need to be recovered and laid to rest respectfully. This also needs to be done to avoid a health epidemic.

“Medicines and medical care needs are increasing with the onset of diseases resulting from growing flu outbreaks and mosquito populations, and from the use of contaminated food and water,” he said.

Saj Malik, Oxfordshire county councillor for East Oxford and Oxford city councillor for Cowley Marsh, is helping to co-ordinate fundraising.

His brothers, Jamil and Aqeel, live in Kot Mithen, in the district of Rajanpur, where villages have been submerged by the flood waters.

Mr Malik said: “My brothers are sending photos to me every day and it is hard to properly understand the devastation.

“It is worrying and we can only hope for the best.

“The money collected in Oxford has already been used to buy rations for 400 families in Charsadda.

“Now we need to switch our attention to medicine.”

For details on how to donate, email Mr Malik at sajjad.malik@oxfordshire.gov.uk

  • The head of an aid appeal for Pakistan praised the generosity of the British public after donations topped £29m yesterday.

Brendan Gormley, the chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), said it was the first time in the organisation’s 45-year history that donations had risen in the second week of an appeal.

“The UK public are leading the way and shaming politicians across the world,” he said.

“We want the rest of the international community to back that sustained giving.”

The DEC, an umbrella organisation representing 13 leading UK aid agencies including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children, launched its appeal two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Jane Cocking, humanitarian director of Oxfam, urged people to keep giving.

“We know that times are hard for a lot of people in the UK but really, honestly, if people can give that little bit more, it’ll go to people who desperately need it now,” she said.

Ms Cocking said the death toll could rise sharply if there was a significant outbreak of disease and those affected were unable to get swift medical care.

Oxfam is providing clean water and hot meals to more than 200,000 people in Pakistan and is aiming to get clean water, sanitation kits and hygiene supplies to about a million people.

  • Bicester Rotary Club members have been out on the streets of the town to raise money for the appeal.
  • Banbury’s Asian community has raised about £2,000 so far for its flood appeal. If you would like to help, call councillor Alyas Ahmed on 07779 797809.
  • To make a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, call 0370 60 60 900, visit the DEC website or donate over the counter at any post office or bank.