KARACHI: Famed Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie and Zimbabwean Islamic scholar Mufti Menk have visited flood-hit areas in Sindh to raise awareness about the devastation caused by the calamity and bring the world’s attention towards helping the victims.

Ms Jolie, who is also the UN’s Special Envoy for Children and Women, visited the flood-affected areas of Johi in Sindh’s Dadu district on Tuesday.

She reached the relief camp in Khair Muhammad Mughiri village by helicopter, where she asked women and children about the damages caused by floods.

Ms Jolie interacted with several women in the relief camps and inquired about their needs. She was also seen comforting women and children, saying that she could feel their pain.

Hollywood actor, famed cleric visit flood-hit areas in Sindh; say much more needs to be done

After visiting a relief camp set up by Orient Petroleum Pvt Ltd, Ms Jolie arrived in flood-hit villages of Mohabbat Lund and Hyder Kingrani in Johi taluka by boat.

She also took an aerial visit of flood-hit areas around Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain and Chandan area of Dadu where she was briefed by officials of Pakistan Army, district administration and irrigation department.

“Ms Jolie will highlight the need for urgent support for the Pakistani people and long-term solutions to address the multiplying crises of climate change, human displacement and protracted insecurity we are witnessing globally,” International Rescue Committee, a relief organisation that arranged her trip, said in a statement

She has previously visited Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods.

Mufti Menk in Jhuddu

Mufti Menk is in Jhudo near Mirpurkhas to assist in relief activities being carried out by Abdullah Aid UK, an international relief charity he’s the global ambassador of.

In a compilation of videos posted on his official Instagram account on Monday, Mr Menk shared the scenes of devastation and highlighted the immediate needs of people who have lost everything and were living under open sky.

“We are in Pakistan in Sindh province which is almost 70 per cent affected by water. Many of the houses are under water,” he said in a video.

He also encouraged his followers to donate and help the victims and said: “No matter what is done, there is still a lot that is needed to be done.”

Mr Menk also pitched tents and handed relief goods.

Meanwhile, an online fundraising campaign by Abdullah Aid on Launch Good has already raised £16,262 to help the flood victims.

Qurban Ali Khushik also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022