Wallingford,
CT – September 2, 2010 – The flood waters are receding in Pakistan, leaving
behind a trail of death, injuries, homelessness and disease.
Americans are starting to open their pockets to help
with relief efforts to save lives and help recover from the worst flooding in recent
history. More than 1,500 people are estimated to have been killed during the
flooding and hundreds of thousands left stranded.In a recent article, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urges donors to
choose their charities wisely by giving to established charities, which
are more likely to have the infrastructure to provide the most help. The floods, triggered by
Pakistan’s monsoon rains, have washed away millions of hectares of crops,
submerged villages, and destroyed roads and bridges. Officials are worried about the spread of
water-borne diseases which could kill many more Pakistanis, many of whom were
left stranded by the floods.There also are new warnings
that dams in southern Pakistan may burst, worsening an already difficult situation.The FTC also recommends
checking out all charities before you give through the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.
For those who don’t
have a favorite charity in mind, one sure option is to give through the official US government relief fund created by the State
Department.
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Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust. BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.Howard Schwartz, Communications Director, 203-269-2700, hschwartz@ct.bbb.org