As Pakistan grapples with some of its worst floods ever, PUAN flood warriors have continued to help the flood affectees. Naureel Abbas, our IVLP alumnus from Lahore has been actively involved in flood relief activities. He is a Disability Right Activist running an NGO – Team DREAMS the Art of Living- for persons with disabilities. Naureel is very vocal and passionate about promoting equality in society and his organization is run by persons with disabilities to ensure inclusion in society. Therefore, Naureel along with his Team Dreams has started a road campaign titled ‘WheelChair Wala’ to collect funds for the flood victims.
People with disability are disproportionately affected by floods because of socioeconomic disparities. He along with his team members did all gathering and packing — working day and night. “We have distributed wheelchairs, food, medicines, and clothes in different places of Charsadda, Nowshera, and Dera Ismail Khan whereas, our relief work with local volunteers in Sindh and Balochistan is in pipeline,” shared Naureel.
“We started this campaign by setting up a camp outside our center at Iqbal town in Lahore. We raised funds on road. Our family and close friends also contributed financially by purchasing goods for flood victims. The main thing that our organization is providing are wheelchairs for flood affectees with disability including children, the elderly, and old people. Relief goods are being supplied to different areas of cities and villages having flood victims and our volunteers are also working in those areas.”
He further added: “The main purpose of conducting this campaign is to rescue the people with disabilities and to facilitate them. The positive message that we want to convey is that persons with disabilities stand by their nation in any disaster. They never give up in any circumstances and that they are on one agenda of working towards the betterment of their country.”
