Page 30 - Presbyterian Connection
P. 30

30
PRESBYTERIAN
WINTER 2022
presbyterian.ca
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
 Pakistan Flood Response
been able to go to school since July. The grade six student at- tended his neighbourhood school and was proud of his academic achievements, but the school has been closed for months.
Missing school and his friends, Luqman is frustrated in his house, which is surrounded by up to 10 feet of contaminated water. His mother and grandmother do not allow him to wander too far from home due to a growing number of snakes and the high probability of skin infections caused by the contaminated water. This is the same water the family must use for cooking and bathing.
To help address issues related to water and sanitation, as well as essential services such as medi- cal clinics, PWS&D is providing additional support to Community World Service Asia through the ACT Alliance.
To mitigate the risk of commu- nicable and waterborne diseases, improved access to sufficient and clean water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene is being provided in high-risk com- munities. Culturally appropriate, secure gender-appropriate toilets and washing facilities will also be provided.
To support this ongoing response, please visit WeRespond.ca/Pakistan-floods.
Dean’s Home, now designated a tear- down.
for Dean and his many challenges during our visit, when we dropped off his card and cheque.
Having these funds available increased St. Andrew’s involve- ment in the surrounding commu- nity and has deepened our own understanding of the sustained impact of natural disasters. It was a privilege for us at St. An- drew’s to be the conduit of love and financial support received through PWS&D from Presbyte- rians across Canada. Your con- tributions to Flood Relief in B.C. have made a tangible difference to many lives.
*Names changed for privacy.
 By Karen Bokma, PWS&D Communications
Pakistan is consistently ranked among the 10 countries most vulnerable to the effects of global climate change. A heavier than usual monsoon season and gla- cial melt following a severe heat wave have created devastating flood conditions in much of the
country. According to the United Nations, “The global climate crisis has contributed to these terrible floods and caused unprecedented human suffering in Pakistan.”
By September 2022, Pakistan had received almost three times the normal yearly rainfall, and as much as one-third of the country was under water.
An estimated 33 million people
Luqman, a grade six student, has not been able to leave his home or attend school because of the floods. PHOTO CREDIT: CWSA
 Mobile health clinics are educating communities on the prevention of water- borne disease. PHOTO CREDIT: CWSA
have been affected, with 6.4 mil- lion requiring urgent humanitarian assistance. At least 1.8 million homes and over 17,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed.
One Meal a Day
“We mostly eat one meal a day. The meal consists of some flour we cook together with chopped onions, chiles and rarely toma- toes. We cook it all together be- cause we do not have enough firewood or fuel, so we cannot waste it on cooking separately,” shared Tejan, a widow and moth- er of 11, who is currently sharing her home with multiple families.
PWS&D’s par tner in Pakistan, Community World Service Asia, is implementing an emergency food
assistance project for affected communities in the Khairpur dis- trict of Sindh province. This project is receiving suppor t from Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its members, as well as matching funds from the Government of Canada.
Monthly cash assistance will be provided to 5,700 families for four months to help them meet their food needs. Cash transfers are an effective way of address- ing hunger—allowing people to make their own decisions about food for their families that is nu- tritionally and culturally appropri- ate, while also supporting local markets.
No One to Play With
Thirteen-year-old Luqman hasn’t
  Flood Relief in Merritt, B.C.
  By Steve Filyk and Klaas Broersma, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kamloops, B.C.
Nearly every spring in Merritt, B.C., advisories warn people that the waters of the city’s two river systems will rise. Often no major flooding is experienced, except in lower lying areas. That was the case for June of 2021. The fol- lowing fall, it was a different story!
In the Fraser Valley and the south-western interior of B.C., “atmospheric rivers” led to cata- strophic flooding and mudslides, with all major transportation cor- ridors (highways, bridges and railways) destroyed. The cities of Merritt and Princeton were hit hard as the rivers burst their banks on Nov. 15, 2021, damag- ing infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sewage treatment facilities. Over 300 houses and mobile homes were impacted by the flood waters that spilled into basements, crawl spaces and over some of the main floors of
Outside Judy’s condemned trailer.
these homes.
The flooding damaged walls
and floors, as well as applianc- es, furniture and other personal items. Often electrical and plumb- ing also needed repair or replace- ment. The floodwaters also left behind a thick layer of sediment (clay, silt and sand and other de- bris) that had to be removed, of- ten by hand.
The cost of repairs ran into the tens of thousands of dollars for
most homeowners. Many didn’t have insurance to cover the dam- age, and government flood relief was limited and difficult to access.
An initial contribution of $2,000 from PWS&D allowed St. An- drew’s to partner with the Kam- loops Salvation Army to provide Christmas hampers to families in need. However, this spring, recognizing continuing need, St. Andrew’s received additional support from PWS&D to assist
those who were still rebuilding. This was done in partnership with a local Merritt congregation, Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church (NVEFC), who had boots on the ground and were best able to judge personal and community needs.
Judy‘s* trailer was destroyed in the flood, and now she’s living in a motorhome. She was one of 20 individuals and families who were selected to receive a gift of $2,000. Judy was overjoyed to hear about the support she was receiving through PWS&D. When handing her the card with the cheque, she burst into tears of gratitude. A card was later re- ceived from her by the church, thanking the entire congregation.
Dean* is a newcomer to the Merritt community, who deals with a number of challenges. Since the flood damaged his house, Dean had been living in a donated RV. At the same time, he was facing a recent diagnosis of kidney can- cer. Pastor Steve was able to pray






















































   28   29   30   31   32