Plan Canada Launches Pakistan Appeal to Help 500,000 Children in Escalating Pakistan Conflict

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Attention: Foreign Affairs, Social Affairs, News, Assignment editors.

Plan Canada is launching a nationwide fund raising appeal to help more
than 800,000 people fleeing into refugee camps to escape the escalating
conflict between the Taliban and government forces in northwest Pakistan.

"This is the greatest exodus of a terrorized population in such a short
period of time since Rwanda, and 70% of this population are children,"
said Rosemary McCarney, president and CEO of Plan Canada which is part of
Plan, a global movement for change, mobilizing millions of people
worldwide to support social justice for children in the developing world.

"These children are fleeing with nothing more than the clothes on their
backs and the 18 refugee camps set up by the government need help to
provide the basic food, water and shelter required to cope with the
massive influx of people," McCarney said.

Plan resources are already on the ground in Pakistan, working to provide
basic necessities as well as counselling and child-friendly spaces in
camps where children will be safe. Plan is striving to raise $1 million
to help support the Pakistan relief efforts.

Canadians can make a donation online at plancanada.ca

About Plan Canada:

Plan Canada is part of Plan, a global movement for change, mobilizing
millions of people worldwide to support social justice for children in
the developing world. It is one of the world's oldest and largest
international development organizations, working in more than 65
countries worldwide on critical issues affecting millions of children.

Editor's Note - Experts for comment in Canada and from Pakistan are
available through:

Richard Chassie, Idea Workshop at 416-920-1220

Steve Theobald, Plan Canada at 416-568-6525

Contacts:
Idea Workshop
Richard Chassie
416-920-1220

Plan Canada
Steve Theobald
416-568-6525

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