Eight million children at risk of disease. Six million people homeless. More than 1,600 dead.

Those are some of the devastating statistics that only begin to tell the story in Pakistan after floods ravaged the country over several weeks.

Here are more: more than 5,000 miles of road and railways, 7,000 schools and 400 health clinics reportedly washed away.

Monday, nearly 200 people turned out for a fundraiser at the Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier in Getzville on the crisis in Pakistan and what people can do to get involved.

“It is unbelievable — it’s of biblical proportions — and we are trying to help as much as we can,” said Faizan Haq, president of the Pakistani American Association of Western New York, which sponsored the event.

Haq said many of the “1,000-plus” Pakistani- American families he estimated live in Western New York have family members and friends in Pakistan, including himself. Some have lost loved ones in what is now considered the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history.

“My plea to the Western New York community at large is to please get involved. Pakistan has given many sacrifices for the United States of America. . . . This is a time to make a difference, this is a time to get involved,” Haq said.

Appeals from the United Nations for emergency relief from member countries have fallen short, with only 35 per-

cent received or committed. He said contributions can be sent to PAAWNY, 4979 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY 14226-2547. The checks should be marked for Pakistan flood relief.

Dr. Ismail Mehr presented a slide show that captured the devastation, as well as humanitarian efforts to take care of people’s need for safe drinking water, food, shelter and clothing.

Mehr, the relief committee chairman with the Islamic Medical Association of North America, said he has been to several countries that suffered calamities. But the tens of thousands of people he saw in one displacement camp with little water or sanitation and makeshift tents was the worst he has seen, especially when millions are affected.

“As a physician, you see the setup for the diseases that are going to spread, but as a human being you just see people without anything living out in the open,” Mehr said.

The Islamic Medical Association is taking care of 14,000 people in Pakistan, Mehr said, providing basic necessities, along with medical care, schooling and even buying sewing machines so women can mend clothes and sell items in the marketplace.

Dr. Israr Abbasi of Jamestown said the Human Development Foundation, of which he is a board member, is also active in humanitarian relief efforts. The group has provided medical treatment to 20,000, is installing water-purification plants and rebuilding schools and living facilities, Abbasi said.

Dr. Robert Stall said he was at the event in solidarity. He’s a member of Building Bridges, which he described as “local Jews and Muslims working together for the common good.”

Don Patterson of Buffalo was also there to lend support.

“We need to help where we can and in any way that we can, whether that’s in Louisiana or any other corner of the world,” Patterson said. “We have an obligation as those who are doing better to help those who are doing not as well.”

msommer@buffnews.comnull