The Anglican mission agency USPG has sent an emergency grant to Pakistan where major flooding has submerged villages, claimed lives and destroyed crops.
Continuous heavy monsoon rain has been falling since mid-August, causing flooding in nearly 1,000 villages in the Diocese of Hyderabad.
The Rt Revd Humphrey Peters, Bishop of Peshawar, after visiting the diocese reported: ‘The entire diocese has suffered from heavy rains. Eight of our churches have badly damaged, and many Christians have lost their houses. There is about six to eight feet of water standing in some of the rural churches.’
The USPG emergency grant – from our Rapid Response Fund – will provide food, soap and mosquito nets for 100 families.
A total of 66 people have died, including nine children. Deaths were caused by collapsing buildings, electrocution and fever.
Crops and livestock have been lost, and there is a severe threat of epidemics spreading, including typhoid and cholera.
Communications systems and power lines are down in many areas.
The diocese is catering mainly for vulnerable Christian communities, who are often last to receive aid from government and other agencies. But will help as many people as they can.
The flooding is an additional tragedy in a country where the risk of terrorist attacks are a part of daily life in some parts of Pakistan.
In the Diocese of Peshawar on Tuesday of last week, three children and a teacher were killed when Islamic extremists opened fire on a school bus.
Bishop Humphrey said: ‘There is a strange curse on the country, but we are praying. Kindly tell your friends to remember us in special prayers. Thank you for all your concern.’
Donations can be made to USPG via its Rapid Response Fund at http://www.uspg.org.uk/article.php?article_id=44