Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and members of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International are providing immediate relief to survivors while preparing for a major, organized response as the extent of damage and number of deaths becomes more apparent following Saturday morning's (October 8, 2005) powerful earthquake in Pakistan.
ACT member Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A), began responding to the situation immediately and was able to send food items to the most-affected areas of Pakistan — Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The food items included wheat flour, rice, pulses, sugar, cooking oil, tea and salt. Match boxes and soap were also provided to the families. Health camps to serve 50,000 to 100,000 people are in the process of being set up. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has sent a team in for water and sanitation consultation. PDA has provided an initial $60,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to Church World Service to aid in this response.
The Worldwide Ministries Division has been able to reach nearly all PC(USA) mission workers in Pakistan, and all who have been contacted report they are safe. WMD has not yet been able to contact one couple, but they are not based near the affected area and are not believed to be in danger.
PDA is sending Rev Kathy Angi (mission coworker and psychosocial specialist currently serving in Hungary) to work with NCA and Church of Sweden in providing psycho-social care for survivors. PDA is contacting the Gujranwala Theological Seminary in Pakistan to provide female seminary students to serve as translators and to train with Kathy and the team in order to provide long-term care.
Please continue to pray for the people affected by this disaster — those who have lost family members and friends; those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed; and those working to assist the survivors. |
