YWAM RELIEF

News Flash

Islamists attack Christians in N.E.Pakistan

" I saw the bodies lined up in front of me", recounted our YWAM Pakistan representative in Gojra village on August1st. " A mob, stirred up by the mosque in Toba Take Singh District attacked our Christian villages, burning and looting wherever they went. Over 15 were killed immediately, but the mob also stopped the injured from getting to a hospital. Casualites will increase. Forty homes are destroyed and 450 people are in hiding wherever they can go".

"Please help us. We have held a collection for our people, but we are poor and our collection is only enough for one wooden bedframe. We have been given pots and pans for the homeless, but they need everything: food, shelter, clothes and bedding, they will continue to need support for months as they are now too afraid to go to work. They know they will be shot. There are armed extremists all around".

Our Office in Pakistan is ready to help the people. A representative is on the ground and a team is on the way.

YWAM England is raising funds to send to YWAM Pakistan for the relief effort. In particular, we will reach those who are in hiding.

In the longterm, YWAM Pakistan also wants to develop some land as safe housing for families escaping oppression. To contact us about these activities, email our development office at:

mail@ywampakistan.com

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PAKISTAN

1. The current statistics present the following profile of poverty:
2. 42 million or roughly 30% of the population are poor; 47 million adults or 62% of the adult population cannot read or write,
3. 76% of the female adult population is illiterate.

In addition, eight million children are out of school;

61 million people or 45% of the population have no access to safe drinking water;

54 million people or 40% of the population have no access to even basic health services;

72 million people or 53% of the population have no access to sanitation;

nine million children under the age of five or 38% of the under-five population are malnourished.

A Profile of Poverty in Pakistan, prepared by the Mahbubul Haq Centre for Human Development (MHCHD) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2006.

Bodies lying ready for burial, Gojra village, Faisalabad Province, N.E.Pakistan. August 2nd 2009.

The villagers refused to bury their dead until a representative of the Federal Government came to witness the scene and publically condemn the destruction of Christians' lives and livelihoods.

News Flash: August 12 2009

Our representative in the area has told us that building has already commenced in the village.

However, none of the victims of this attack want to return ever again as nothing has been done to remove the constant threat against their lives and security.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has announced it has allocated 2.5 million USD ( £1.4 million ) for the rehabilitation of the Gojra. He said that all homes would be rebuilt within a month and that money would be managed by a new committee that would supervise rehabiliation and create religious harmony. Dawn Friday 7th August

This open recognition of a serious problem within the nation is a new and welcome step from the government , but it is doubtful many of those in hiding will ever again feel secure or wish to live or work in this neighbourhood any more..