A number of Indonesian non-governmental organizations grouped in "Indonesia Cares For Pakistan" are sending volunteers to help flood victims in the south Asian country.

The organizations are Baznas (National Alms Agency), BSMI (Indonesian Red Crescent), MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee), ACT (Rapid Response Action), PKPU, Dompet Dhuafa and Lazis Dewan Dakwah, according to a press statement from Hermin R Rachim, corporate secretary of Baznas, here Friday.

Five volunteers, consisting of three from ACT and two from PKPU, left Jakarta for Pakistan last Wednesday (Aug 24). Two volunteers from Baznas are expected to depart to Pakistan on Friday (Aug 27), and two more from Dompet Dhuafa on Monday (Aug 30).

The volunteers bring along logistic assistance and help provide medical services in the flood-hit areas in Pakistan.

The assistance from Indonesia is part of Islamic solidarity which needs to be strengthened up, according to to Rachim.

Program Director of PKPU (Justice Post for the Muslims) Tomy Hendrajati said his organization planned to send a total 12 volunteers to Pakistan and they will stay for one or two months for life saving mission.

An area of more than 160,000 square kilometres - greater than the entire size of England, Bangladesh or Cuba - has been ravaged by floods since exceptionally heavy monsoon rains began falling in Pakistan late last month.

The number of people classed as significantly affected is almost 20 million, while about 1.2 million homes have been destroyed or badly damaged.