It’s raining. It’s pouring.This time of year marks the rainy season in many parts of the world, and while farmers in Latin America are grateful for rains that have finally broken a long season of drought, families in Asia are worried about how they will survive horrendous flooding. Rivers in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are all over-flowing following an especially heavy monsoon season. World Renew is seeking financial support so that it can respond.
“South Asia’s rivers have been overwhelmed by this year’s deluge of rain,” said Wayne de Jong, World Renew Director of Disaster Response and Rehabilitation. “In India, roads have been washed away, villagers are seeking refuge on rooftops, and experts are saying it is the worst flooding in 50 years. In Northern Bangladesh, weeks of flash flooding have left nearly half a million people homeless and has destroyed their crops. And in Pakistan 2.3 million people have already been affected.”
“The needs in Pakistan are astronomical. Our partners have said that they could easily help 5,000 families if we were able to financially support it.”
World Renew has a long-standing presence in both Bangladesh and India. By working through local partners, World Renew will provide food, shelter and other emergency supplies to those most in need. Money has also been set aside to provide seeds to Bangladeshi farmers to replant their crops once the waters recede.
In Pakistan, the needs are especially large. Only four years ago, an epic flood displaced 20 million people across Pakistan and left one fifth of the country under water. World Renew and its local partners the Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP) and Church World Service (CWS) spent two years responding to the 2010 floods and were able to help 8,000 families (including 250 Christian families) receive food, water, shelter, goats, other supplies. Together with Tearfund Pakistan, World Renew also helped to restore livelihoods by providing goats and agricultural supplies to 400 households.
This year’s flood is on pace to be equally as damaging as that 2010 disaster. World Renew is renewing its partnership with I-LAP in order to respond. This initially involves food assistance, tents, kitchen supplies, hygiene items, mattresses, blankets, and water supplies for 120 families in Sharoon Colony – a community in a low lying plain that was flooded with more than 24 feet of rain water and is home to many Christian families.
World Renew also expects to respond with I-LAP in the Jhang district of Punjab, but its ability to help is limited by the amount of support it receives. Funds have been committed in order that 500 families can be fed immediately and for the next week, but many more families need help, and for a much longer period of time.
“The needs in Pakistan are astronomical,” said de Jong. “Our partners have said that they could easily help 5,000 families if we were able to financially support it. World Renew is in conversations with some of our fundraising alliances but is also urging our support community to prayerfully consider making a gift towards this need.”
