As Muhammad Rizwan left his home in Islamabad, Pakistan in August, he knew the country needed help.

While Rizwan was leaving for a year of academic leave from the International Islamic University in Islamabad to study at Eastern in the technology department, he was completely aware of the struggle Pakistan had ahead of it.

In early July, a flood overtook 60 percent of the country destroying crops, homes and infrastructure along the way.

Though Rizwan’s home in Islamabad was not directly affected by the floodwater, the flood affected over 20 million people and countless others will be affected, as crops and food supply were destroyed.

Pakistan is a country largely based on agriculture, and with over half of the land destroyed before the harvest was complete, all will feel a shortage of food.

“The whole country is under oppression with food problems; vegetable prices have rose because the crops were destroyed,” Rizwan said. “We have had very difficult times with social problems, food shortages, lack of shelter and economic problems.”

Now, over four months later, the country of Pakistan is still in turmoil from the flood.

“We are in a phase where we need psychological and economic help because the houses and fields need to be prepared for the next growing season,” Rizwan said.

And while the United Nations has asked the world to give aid, Rizwan still felt that more needed to be done from the moment he stepped onto Eastern’s campus.

With this mindset, he has helped launch a campaign with the Association of International Students, the Asian American Association and the Latin American Student Organization to raise funds for the cause.

This is the second national disaster Pakistan has seen within five years.

In 2005, an earthquake devastated the country.

“Even a developed country would have a hard time paying for this in such a short amount of time,” Rizwan said.

The country is now experiencing severe weather conditions with much of the population living in tents while their houses are rebuilt.

“We are committed to rebuild,” Rizwan said. “We are a hard-working and strong country. We use our own resources, but even the infrastructure was destroyed. It’s just difficult.”

The AIS, AAA and LASO have tried to work together to raise money for different causes over the last two to three years, and this year their efforts have been focused on raising awareness about the flood.

“We realized one event was not enough,” said Ann Ignalaga, the president of the AAA. “So all of the events joined hands together.”

The groups donated ribbons to raise awareness and accepted donations at the Sounds of the World and International Festival.

“But no matter what we can do, we can’t do enough,” Ignalaga said.

Shaukat Sheikh, a second year graduate student from the communication studies and technology departments and a student from Pakistan, said this was the worst flood in over 80 years.

“We should be thankful for what we have here,” Sheikh said. “And if we contribute a little, a little for us can be a big difference for the lives of the people who are suffering.”

The organizations chose to donate the money directly to the International Islamic University.

“We wanted to get the money there as soon as possible,” Rizwan said. “Others would have charged a fee and taken longer, while if we went through the university, we would be able to have immediate feedback when they received the money without a fee.”

If someone wants to send money, they can still donate and the efforts will be given to the university just as the rest of the monetary donations have over the semester.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-2812 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu