(Burlington, ON): Islamic Relief Canada CEO, Usama Khan, is on the ground in Pakistan to commemorate the one year anniversary of the catastrophic floods that devastated the country last summer. On August 3rd, Khan will be attending Islamic Relief’s event, "Climate Resilient Pakistan: Rhetoric to Reality – One Year On.”
Islamic Relief’s event is an opportunity to gather key partners and stakeholders who have played a pivotal role in supporting the flood rebuilding efforts. The purpose of the event is to reflect upon the aftermath of the flooding and discuss long-term and sustainable solutions to address the climate crisis. Khan will be joined at the event by domestic and foreign dignitaries, including Canada's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Leslie Scanlon.
Last year’s flooding impacted over 33 million people, drastically altering lives and livelihoods, damaging over 2 million homes, causing over $15 billion in damages, and tragically claiming over 1,700 lives. As the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, these extreme climate disasters are becoming alarmingly frequent and severe in Pakistan, reflecting the scale and gravity of the escalating global climate crisis.
In the midst of the floods last year, Khan visited families who were impacted by the devastation. Ahead of his visit, he shares, "Last year’s flooding was not an isolated catastrophe. Climate change continues to wreak havoc in Pakistan through changing weather patterns, drought, landslides and extreme weather events. In the past couple of weeks alone, the country is once again being impacted by flooding, claiming the lives of numerous more Pakistanis. There is an urgent need to come together collectively as an international community to implement long-term solutions to the climate crisis.”
Usama Khan is available for media interviews from the ground in Pakistan.
To arrange an interview or any other inquiries, please get in touch with Aisha Saleem, Communications Coordinator, at [email protected] or 647 668 7996.
About Islamic Relief Canada
Islamic Relief Canada is a registered charity in Canada and Canada's largest Muslim NGO working in more than 40 countries to provide humanitarian relief and build resilient, prosperous communities. Visit www.islamicrelief.ca for more information.