Photo via fh.org

Floods in Pakistan affect 15 million, worst disaster in decades

The monsoon season in Pakistan is only halfway over, but already nearly 15 million people have been affected by some of the worst flooding in the country's history -- a number that exceeds those affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, and Haiti's recent earthquake, according to the United Nations, reports MNN.

And the devastation in the water's wake is worse than some of the horrendous natural disasters the country has seen in the past. Peter Howard of Food for the Hungry said, "This has caused more damage--more infrastructure damage--than the 2005 earthquake. This is causing the worst damage that Pakistan has seen in decades."

Howard said although the waters have left few people and items unscathed, the worst may be yet to come: "People have been losing their lives, their homes, their properties, their livestock, and schools have been destroyed. Whole families are being affected."

Doing their best to provide the maximum amount of aid while also focusing on long-term needs, FH is partnering with Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), who is in country: "They have trusted relationships with people on the ground. They know the culture; they know the needs. And they are trusted by the communities. Food for the Hungry comes along them, supports them, and then our partner is there once we leave," Howard said.

Even after floodwaters have receded and FH has left the country, through their partnership with I-LAP they will be able to continue to rebuild communities and livelihoods with fields, crops and livestock.

But relief will not be the only thing continuing after they are gone, as I-LAP and FH share Christ with Pakistanis through their caring actions: "That's our goal, really: to represent Christ well now, during the disaster, and then Christ will continue to be represented well by our partners as they rebuild after the disaster," he said.

This partnership also enables FH to provide aid to areas they may not have been able to help otherwise because of their ongoing work in other regions of the world. For instance, they continue their work in Haiti, but reaching out a helping hand to Pakistan has stretched them thin.

However, Howard said, "I think we always have to realize, we serve a God of Hope. The devastation is probably beyond words, but yet our God is also much bigger."

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TAGS: Pakistan monsoon season disaster floods Indian Ocean tsunami Kashmir earthquake relief help

[08/10/2010]

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