Westerners Urged to Earmark Aid for Pakistan’s Marginalized Christians
ICC Note
“Some are flatly denied assistance while others are told to vacate the region or convert to Islam. Imagine, giving up your faith in order to feed your starving children – what a horrible choice. The church in Pakistan needs another way to take care of their families. They’re looking to you and to me.”
By Patrick Goodenough
09/02/2010 Pakistan (CNSNews)-Christians in Pakistan’s flood-hit regions are doubly affected by the disaster as a result of anti-Christian discrimination by government relief workers and Muslim aid agencies, according to representatives of the embattled minority.
They are urging Christians to send assistance to organizations that will either help stricken Christians specifically, or at least ensure that Christians are not sidelined in the aid distribution.
As flood waters begin to recede, thousands of Christians are among millions of Pakistanis left homeless. Aid agencies are delivering food, clothing, building supplies and hygiene kits in a bid to prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
Many have lost not only their homes but also their source of livelihood as their crops and subsistence fields have been washed away along with seed for next season’s planting.
According to the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC), Muslim relief organizations and government agencies have been denying assistance to Christians affected by the flooding in Punjab province.
The PCC organ Pakistan Christian Post described the southern Punjab was a “hotbed” of extremist organizations which view Christians as “infidels.” It said local officials in fear of the radical elements were barring Christians from tent camps for flood victims.
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Western Christian organizations working in Pakistan also are calling for help for Christian flood victims specifically, concerned that they will otherwise lose out, or face intolerable pressures.
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“The only place with aid for many is their local mosque, which places Christians in an extremely vulnerable situation,” Open Doors USA president Carl Moeller says in a video appeal.
“Some are flatly denied assistance while others are told to vacate the region or convert to Islam. Imagine, giving up your faith in order to feed your starving children – what a horrible choice. The church in Pakistan needs another way to take care of their families. They’re looking to you and to me.”
Barnabas Fund, an international charity focusing on Christian minorities in the Islamic world, is another conduit for assistance for Christian individuals and families affected by the flood.
“Christians, who are marginalized and discriminated against in Pakistan, are likely to be neglected by the government and mainstream aid agencies, so desperately need the help of fellow believers around the world,” it said Wednesday.
“Barnabas Fund channels money exclusively from Christians through Christians to Christians who desperately need our help,” the organization’s international director, Patrick Sookhdeo, said in an earlier statement.
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