Photo via assistnews.net

Pakistan: Christian families receive Barnabas aid

Over 100 stranded Christian families who were rescued from a remote village are among the thousands of Pakistani flood victims receiving aid from Barnabas Fund, an international organization that works to support Christian communities around the world where they are facing poverty and persecution, reports Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries.

A Barnabas Fund spokesperson told the ASSIST News Service (ANS), that the Pakistani army had helped to transport the villagers from Rangpur Khare, Muzaffargarh, in Punjab Province, on Tuesday (August 10, 2010) night to a place of safety where they are now being cared for by Barnabas Fund partners.

“The 102 families are among the thousands of Christians who are receiving aid including food, water and medicine thanks to generous and swift donations from our supporters around the world since an emergency appeal was launched Monday, August 2, 2010,” said the spokesperson.

Barnabas Fund’s regional coordinator for South Asia said: “Our partners at local churches and Christian organizations are working tirelessly to rescue and help those whose homes and lives have been devastated by the flooding. Every day more victims who have been stranded by the waters are found, and the need for aid and supplies to help these brothers and sisters is relentless.”

Up to 200,000 Christians affected by Pakistan floods

The spokesperson went on to say that the scene is getting “increasingly desperate with the disaster zone stretching from the Swat Valley in the north to Sindh in the south, and the tally of people affected has now topped 14 million.”

He added, “Based on the Christian population of the flooded areas - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Punjab Province and Sindh Province - it is estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 Christians may be affected.”

The United Nations this week rated the Pakistan floods as the greatest humanitarian crisis in recent history as the number of people affected surpassed the combined total of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the earthquakes in Pakistan in 2005 and Haiti in January this year.

Barnabas Fund has asked Christians around the world to pray for the following:

* That the authorities and relief organisations are equipped with the resources and manpower they need to reach and help the ever-growing number of victims.

* For relief from the rain and that the water levels start to subside so that rehabilitation work can begin.

* For Christians who have lost everything to experience hope in the Lord as they feel helpless and fearful about the future.

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TAGS: Pakistan Christian families Pakistani flood victims Barnabas Fund poverty persecution

[08/13/2010]

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