CBWC News

A month of heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan have left more than 20% of the country underwater as this poor and violence-torn country experiences the worst natural disaster in its history.

More than 20 million people have been affected, with 8 million requiring emergency aid. Millions have been left homeless and many forced into makeshift settlements. More than 1,500 people have died so far and as the waters continue to rise, the threat of waterborne diseases like cholera threaten to kill thousands more.

Donate Through CBM

Although Canadian Baptist Ministries has no pre-existing missions in Pakistan, it is arranging to donate funds raised through the Canada Food Grains Bank. These funds will be multiplied 4:1 by CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and will be used for desperately needed emergency food relief. Severe food shortages are expected because so much cropland has been submerged by the flooding.

To make a donation to CBM for Pakistan, go to www.cbmin.org All donations made between August 2 and September 12 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian government.

To read more about the flooding in Pakistan, click the link

The greatest danger immediate danger comes from contaminated water and a lack of proper sanitation. Pakistan’s medical system, terribly overburdened at the best of times, is unable to cope because the floods have damaged more than 200 medical facilities and displaced about 1/3 of the country’s 100,000 female health workers who are the primary healthcare provides for millions of Pakistani women in rural communities. 3.5 million children are at risk from waterborne diseases, malnutrition, skin diseases and respiratory infections.

The Pakistan government has been severely criticized for is slow and poorly coordinated response. Millions, especially in rural communities have not yet received the help they need.

So far, governments across the world have pledged $800 million in aid. In contrast, Haiti received pledges and aid of at least $10 billion and $7 billion was sent to Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami. In Haiti’s January 12 earthquake, 250,000-300,000 were killed and one million left homeless. In the tsunami, about 300,000 were killed.

Many experts attribute the difference in the international response to the lower death toll, limited media coverage, negative perceptions of Pakistan because of the Taliban presence in the northern areas of the country, the poor economy, donor fatigue and concerns about the efficiency of the Pakistan government in distributing aid.

Most of Pakistan’s 170 million people live near the Indus River which is severely flooded. With 24% of its people living below the national poverty line, Pakistan ranks only 141 out of 182 countries in its human development index, which includes life expectancy, literacy rates and per capita GDP. It is the second most populous Muslim nation in the world.

Please pray for Pakistan. Let God’s love be shown to the people who live in this impoverished and beleaguered nation.