Action Against Hunger(AAH) has launched an emergency response to help the 2.5m people affected by severe flooding in Pakistan, and is asking British restaurateurs and diners for their help.
Flooding in northern Pakistan over the last few days has left an estimated 1,500 people dead and hundreds of thousands stranded and homeless. The international humanitarian organisation is now working to stem the outbreak of disease and waterborne illnesses before impending monsoons hot the area.
Restaurateurs, as well as hoteliers and publicans, are being urged to get involved in the organisation’s fundraising effort by donating meal vouchers for auction or adding an optional £1 per head to their menus.
In February five chefs – Atul Kochhar, Chris Galvin, Herbert Berger, John Burton Race and Vickram Purewal - cooked a five-course meal at London restaurant Le Bouchon Breton to raise money for the Haiti earthquake victims, while Fanny Stocker, financial controller at Harrison’s and Sam’s Brasserie, implemented a project to produce a donation envelope that could be used in 1,000 restaurants in the UK.
Nick Radin, AAH’s water, sanitation and hygiene advisor for Pakistan, said: “The overwhelming concern beyond rescuing survivors is to keep diseases like cholera at bay by ensuring access to clean water and basic hygiene. It’s a race against time to reach the thousands needing immediate help.”
Grateful for industry support
Emma Cullingford, campaign manager for AAH, said the organisation was grateful for the longstanding support from the restaurant industry.
"Thanks to their ongoing support we are able to respond to humanitarian crises such as the current emergency in Pakistan where millions of people have been left without food and water following the worst flooding in 80 years."
This is the second emergency appeal launched by AAH since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in January.
Restaurateurs can help AAH fight hunger and act in emergencies by signing up to their annual industry campaign Fight Hunger, Eat Out, which sees around 500 UK restaurants raise funds to help end hunger and malnutrition in countries around the world, at www.restaurantagainsthunger.org.
Action Against Hunger has suggested a number of other ways restaurants, pubs and hotels can get involved in fundraising for the Pakistan Emergency Appeal:
- Donate vouchers for a meal or hotel stay for two to be auctioned online by AAH
- Acquire posters and a collection box to encourage donations from employees, diners and guests
- Organise a special fundraising evening
- Add an optional donation of £1 per head to the menu
- Donate all proceeds from a particular dish
Restaurants looking to donate vouchers or get involved in other ways can get further information, as well as promotion material such as collection boxes, posters and POS by emailing k.doyle@aahuk.org or calling Karen Doyle on 020 8293 6190.