Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Pakistan floods - one year on

As Pakistan marks the one-year anniversary of the worst floods in living memory, the aid agency, Oxfam, has warned that country is still unprepared for the monsoon season.

In a new report “ Ready or not? Pakistan’s resilience to disasters, one year on from the floods”, Oxfam said that families had not fully recovered from last year’s disaster and were likely to fall even deeper into poverty if hit by floods again. Oxfam is calling on the Pakistan government and donors to invest more in more in measures to reduce the impact of disasters.

This could include flood resistant housing, and effective early warning systems – especially at the village level. The cost of reconstruction for last year’s floods is estimated at more than ten billion dollars; but investing an initial 27 million dollars, backed up with yearly top ups, to improve disaster management would make a huge difference in making Pakistan better-prepared for future emergencies.






Tuesday, July 12, 2011

An emotional moment



Oxfam's goodwill ambassador, Kristin Davis, breaks down in tears as she describes her visit to Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp where thousands arrive every day, escaping drought and hunger in eastern Africa. Its a very moving interview.

Oxfam is one agency that's launched a massive appeal to help those affected by drought in East Africa.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Making local music popular with new generations



In Pakistan, there's a great tv series Coke Studio which features live performances from musicians from all all over the country. I love it.... this is one of my favourite songs at the moment..Ith Naheen, performed by singer Sanam Marvi. Found the English lyrics too..its really haunting


Title: Ith Naheen – – If Not Right Here

Language: Urdu, Siraiki

Poet: Sachal Sarmast (d. 1829)

tu mila bhi hai tu juda bhi hai

You are merged, You are also apart

tera kya kahna

You defy description!

tu sanam bhi hai tu khuda bhi hai

You are the idol. You are also God

tera kya kahna

You defy description!

kya kahna

defy description!

ith naheen te kith naheen

if not right here, then nowhere

ith naheen te kith naheen

if not right here, then nowhere

eeho kaun pya bolainda

who is this who is speaking

bolainda

is speaking

bolainda

is speaking

ith naheen te kith naheen

if not right here, then nowhere

kanjari waali soorat ban ke

assuming the appearance of a dancing girl

sachal naam saenda

“Sachal, the Truthful’ is he proclaimed as

he is proclaimed as “(Sachal) the Truthful’

saenda

proclaimed as

saenda

proclaimed as

ith naheen to kith naheen

if not right here, then nowhere