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Shamim Masih
ISLAMABAD: 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.
Read previous report (click here)
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.
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 form 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.
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.
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.
The families supported were; Shafaqat Bibi, Ambreen Bibi, Lubna, Rani, Nasreen, Parveen, Attiaya Aftab, Irshad Bibi, Frazana Katharine, Mr. Indrias, Kainat Bibi, Soha, Adeela Waris, Shazia Ijaz, and Musrat Wilson. All of these women were very thankful to BPCA and are keeping our group in their prayers.
The other waiting families are Sumaira Hameed, Asma Bibi, Ilayas Masih, Razaq Masih, Rukhsana Bibi, Saira Bibi, Saba Mushtaq, Sobia, Sarya Bibi to name a few.
One of these families Suraya Bibi, a widow planned to marry her daughter and asked for support as she has lost her daughters dowry. If anyone would like to send personal donations towards this girls dowry please do so, and we will keep you personally updated.
Wilson Chowdhry Chair of the BPCA said;
“It is disappointing that despite our email distribution of 19,000 we were only able to secure £200 for this years 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 affect is that Christian 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 labour is an outreach.”
The BPCA is continuing our disaster recovery fund for victims of the flood. If you would like to contribute to our relief work our bank details are as follows:
Sort Code: 20-67-90 Account number: 63468976 Bank: Barclays
Ref: Pakistan Flood Appeal
Alternatively if you would like to send an immediate donation please use the pay-pal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog, or simply send a cheque made payable to the BPCA to our address; 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.
With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan.
