The adverse effect of Pakistan flood
The anti-Christian posture of the Pakistani Government in the distribution of relief materials meant for the victims of the recent flood that hit the country has become so worrisome.
International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/, a United States (US) based Christian humanitarian organization, reports that the Muslim aid agencies have continually marginalized the Christian minorities in the distribution, who are incidentally among the millions of Pakistanis left homeless
It observed that lots of them have lost not only their homes but also their source of livelihood as their crops and subsistence fields have been washed away along with seed for next season’s planting.
Reacting to this spate of discriminations, the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) said that Muslim relief organizations and government agencies have been denying assistance to Christians affected by the flooding in Punjab province.
Also reacting, the President, Open Doors, USA, Carl Moeller, stated, “Some are flatly denied assistance while others are told to vacate the region or convert to Islam. Imagine, giving up your faith in order to feed your starving children–-what a horrible choice. The church in Pakistan needs another way to take care of their families. They’re looking to you and to me.”
The International Director, Barnabas Fund, an international charity focusing on Christian minorities in the Islamic world, Patrick Sookhdeo, in his contribution, said that Barnabas Fund channels money exclusively from Christians through Christians to Christians who desperately need our help.
Also speaking, the President, World Vision U.S., http://www.worldvision.org/ Rich Stearns said that World Vision has already delivered food and clean water to more than 21,000 people in Charsada and Nowshera. “We have also opened five emergency health clinics in Lower Dir, treating more than 2,500 people suffering from waterborne diseases and other illnesses.
He noted that the vast floods have created a critical situation in Pakistan, where the number of homeless has just doubled to four million people and that the United Nations (UN) estimates that 20 million people urgently need food, shelter, and emergency care — that's 10 times as many as were impacted by the earthquake in Haiti.
According to Stearns, in the coming months, the goal of World Vision is to provide life-saving supplies like water purification packets, hygiene kits, tents, cooking items, and food to 300,000 people.
“We also hope to open health posts, Child-Friendly Spaces, and Women-Friendly Spaces, and offer additional support to children and families. But we can't continue our response without your support,” he also stated.
The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon had earlier declared: "Make no mistake: this is a global disaster, a global challenge. It is one of the greatest tests of global solidarity in our times."
One other Christian humanitarian organization reaching out to the flood victims, Serve In Missions (SIM) www.sim.org , said that over the past days, it has been distributing emergency packs containing: 10kgs of flour, one kg each of lentils, chickpeas and sugar, one liter of milk, one liter of cooking oil, and salt, red pepper and matches.
It pointed out that its plan is to continue distribution of these basic supplies, but expect that the need for medical help will increase adding that in the initial stages, it sought to provide basic food items and medicine.
SIM observed that in the north, roads and bridges have been severely damaged cutting off whole communities from the rest of the country and that for weeks to come the only way into these areas will be by plane or helicopter. “In the south the huge number of displaced people and unhygienic conditions threaten to cause mass outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The damage to Pakistan's infrastructure will take a long time to put right.”
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