A ceremony recognising Ariana Akram’s fundraising efforts towards flood relief for Pakistan was held at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations. This ceremony was hosted by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Since mid-June 2022, monsoon rains have caused devastating floods in Pakistan, leaving millions homeless. According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, the floods have affected more than 33 million people, which accounts for approximately 15% of the country’s population. At least 1,100 people were killed by the floods that inundated tens of thousands of square kilometres of the country.
Through her efforts, Ariana Akram raised $56,000 for the flood victims, which she distributed between the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Order of Malta’s international relief agency, Malteser International. We, the Order of Malta, have continued to provide humanitarian aid in Pakistan since 2005. Through this generous contribution, our Order, partnering with the Health, Educational and Literacy Programme (H.E.L.P.), a local NGO, has been able to facilitate the construction of 22 climate-resilient homes within the district of Sanghar Sindh.
H.E. Ambassador Beresford-Hill presented a certificate of appreciation to Ariana Akram, commending a “10th-grade student who fully understands the scale of the tragedy that unfolded recently in her homeland when over 30% of the nation was inundated by unprecedented rainfall and flooding”.
Ambassador Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan congratulated Ms. Akram for her efforts in mobilizing the flood contributions campaign and called it as an inspiration for others.
