Swindon Town have made a sizeable donation to help the victims of the devastating flood crisis in Pakistan, where millions of people have seen roads, homes and crops washed away, with the disaster leaving a trail of destruction across the country.
More than 1,150 people have died since the monsoon season began in June, and one-third of the country is currently underwater, with no dry land to pump water out, leading many government officials to label the event as a ‘crisis of unimaginable proportions.’
Of those that have already lost their lives, one-third are believed to be children, and the overall death toll is expected to rise significantly.
It’s estimated more than 33 million Pakistanis – equating to one in seven people – have been affected by the historic flooding, with water sweeping away bridges and roads, cutting off entire villages.
Swindon Town have a strong link with the South-Asian country, having setup a an Academy partnership with Karachi FC back in January this year, marking a historic tie between the two, which has seen several of our coaches visit to run training camps and trials, as well as help shape their youth setups so they’re equipped to bring the next generation of talented Asian players through.
Speaking about the disaster, Town Vice Chairman, Zav Austin, said: “As many of you will already be aware, the country of Pakistan is suffering the effects of some of the worst flooding in it’s history as climate change continues to impact the world.
“Karachi is the country’s largest city, based in the Sindh Province where our Academy is located, and has been hit hard, so the football club has made a sizeable donation to try and help the aid effort.
“I have personally been in contact with the city’s Commissioner to express our sadness and sorrow, as well as pledging our support to the millions who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed.”
As a football club, we want to try and do as much as we can to help the Pakistani people, and as well as your donation, we will also be setting up a drop off point at The County Ground where you can come and leave donations.
We’ll be accepting any items you can spare, including clothing and toiletries, in the Main Reception area, and then working with the local authorities to transport these to the areas that need it most.
If you’d like to donate items, please contact reception@swindontownfc.co.uk and speak to Caroline who will be happy to give you more information and organise drop off times.
Thank you – your generosity means a lot to us and will make a huge difference.
