Heart for the Poor: What to do when disaster strikes… somewhere else
The papers are full of disasters, how does one respond? Below are a few choices.
Reponses: Which one would you choose?
• Ignore it: It doesn’t really affect us so we will remember those impacted in prayer and get on with life.
• Capitalise on it: This is a great opportunity to blame someone and build a case for our cause.
• Worry: What is the world coming to? When will we be next? What if something bad happens to my loved ones?
• Extol it: It is a sign on the return of Jesus, so bring it on!
• Activate: Pray unceasingly and take some time to find out who is doing something that will result in a sustainable future for those impacted.
Guess which one I like!
Regards
Richard Barter
TEAR Fund’s response in Pakistan:
• Estimated 20 million affected
• About 1600 dead
• More than 40% of the country under water
• More people affected than Asian Tsunami, Haiti and the 2005 Kashmir earthquake combined
We are supporting two emergency responses of two local partners:
First Partner: Our local partner on the ground is SSEWA-Pak (Society for Safe Environment and Welfare of Agrarians in Pakistan) and we are supporting them through Tearfund UK (Integral Alliance member). SSEWA-Pak responded to the SWAT valley refugee crises in the North of Pakistan last year, so have experience and connections in the flooded region (TFNZ helped fund this). SSEWA-Pak is currently providing emergency assistance to 3500 vulnerable families (24,500 beneficiaries) affected by extreme flooding in Naushera District (considered the worst affected and most vulnerable) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province, in north-west Pakistan.
The assistance consists of:
1. Food Rations for one month for 3,500 families – consisting of rice, flour, lentils, cooking oil, tea, sugar, milk
2. 3500 Health and Hygiene kits – consisting of soap, antiseptics, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towel, oil, nail cutters, mirror, comb
3. 3,500 plastic sheets for temporary shelter roofs
4. 3,500 Non-Food Item Kits – consisting of plates, glasses, steel pots, tea pots, trays, mugs, kerosene stove.
We have received NZ$100,000 from MFAT for this partner and we will be giving NZ$10,000 of our own money. The total budget for this response is NZ$440,000.
Second Partner: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (Integral Alliance Member). CRWRC are working in partnership with a local partner called the ‘Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP)’. They are responding in the Nowshera and Charsadda Districts of Khyber Paktunkwa Province:
1. Non Food Items for 3000 – 4000 families (includes tents and mosquito nets)
2. Emergency Food Aid – for 3,000 to 4,000 families. Includes lentils, oil, rice, sugar, salt, chilli powder, flour.
3. Ongoing Food Aid – Possibly 2,000+ families per month for 4 more months, depending on need and funding.
These responses could be scaled up as the situation worsens.
We have sent NZ$15,000 of our own funds to CRWRC.
