Pakistan Flooding Hits Millions, Christians Severely Affected

By Michael Ireland

During the monsoon season this year, torrential rains have caused widespread destruction throughout Pakistan. This year's flooding has affected in excess of 11.4 million men, women and children.

According to a media update from the British Pakistani Christian Association - BPCA, many villages were simply washed away and people have been left without shelter simply seeking help and support. Rescue operations are still under-way, however, relief will take years to fully rehabilitate affected communities and infrastructure will need to start from the beginning.

People need food, safe drinking water, shelter and healthcare to survive from the catastrophic effects of this flood," the association said in its news report .

"On behalf of British Pakistani Christian Association - BPCA, I went to help directly affected Christians in Islamabad. With the small funds that were donated to us, we helped 15 families providing them providing them food packages with rice, cooking oil, sugar, tea packets, milk, biscuits, vermicelli, and pulses. We also provided medicines to those suffering from flu and dengue fever. There is a greater need for the restoration of homes and unless we obtain larger donations many families will soon be very prone to the adverse weather conditions that winter brings," said Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the BPCA, speaking in the news release.

Chowdhry said: "In this city alone there are at least another fifty families seeking assistance. They are in desperate need of clothing, home repairs and basic foods. We intend to reach them with any further aid as soon as donations make this possible. "

Chowdhry continued: "Many Christian families live alongside the Korang Nala or Korang River. During the recent inundation, approximately one hundred and fifty families were affected and fifty houses have been destroyed. Many other homes have been seriously damaged."

Chowdhry added: "It is disappointing that despite our email distribution of 19,000, we were only able to secure £200GBP for this year's flood relief. We hope that evidence of the need for more aid will trigger a greater response. We are aware that money going to Pakistani aid groups has gone amiss, however we have an unblemished record. Moreover, the suffering Christians of Pakistan are so often overlooked by Islamic aid groups unless they choose to convert, and the government rarely provides help. The cumulative effect is that Christians in Pakistan are the biggest losers in all of this. We pray that our regular readers choose to support these disenfranchised communities more wholeheartedly. Prayer provides an opening, active labor is an outreach."

Chowdhry concluded: "With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan."

The BPCA is continuing its disaster recovery fund for victims of the flood. If you would like to contribute to their relief work, please send an immediate donation. Simply send a cheque made payable to the 'BPCA' to: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom, IG1 1XG.

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