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The flooding in Pakistan is among the worst natural disasters of our time. Now, local doctors are reaching out and raising money to help.

More than twenty million people have been affected by the flooding, and at least 1,500 are dead from it. Dr. Jamil Farooqui's family lives in one of the areas of Pakistan hardest hit. Farooqui is a doctor in Lexington at St. Joseph Hospital and a board member of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America. He says people here don't understand the devastation the flooding has caused.'

One of my family members explained that it looks like the way when Pakistan was created," said Farooqui. "Sixty years back, and people are coming in different groups. They have no place to live.>

Farooqui, along with two other colleagues, is rallying the community to donate. Since they started raising money ten days ago, $50,000 has been collected, money that he says will go straight to the flood victims.

"I think every dollar will make a difference," said Farooqui. "People will think this is just a drop in the bucket, but I will say drops make oceans.

If you'd like to donate to the Pakistani flood victims, you can do so at the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America website, www.appna.org . You can also donate by text message. Text SWAT to 50555 for a $10 donation to be automatically deducted from your phone bill, or text FLOOD to 27722 for a $10 donation to be automatically deducted from your phone bill.