Pakistan flood relief fund

The Diocese of Wakefield in conjunction with the Pakistan Christian Concern is appealing for donations to aid the relief effort in Pakistan as the situation caused by the floods continues to deteriorate.

 Yaqub Masih, secretary of the Asian Christians Fellowship, was honoured last year by the diocese and made a lay canon of Wakefield Cathedral. Mr Masih is well known in local Asian congregations and has been raising awareness of the problems arising from the Pakistan Floods. He is also Chair of the organization Pakistan Christian Concern (PCC). PCC exists to uplift the Christian community in Pakistan and to provide up to date information on various issues that the nation is facing today (pakistanchristian Concern).

 The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, told local clergy: ‘The situation is dire and Yaqub and I would like to ask for your prayers and to ask you to please continue to highlight the situation in your parishes.’

 The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating. The Disasters Emergency Committee have reported that the monsoon floods intensified last Saturday hitting the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa the hardest. Millions have lost homes or livelihoods. Waters have washed away thousands of acres of crops, government buildings, businesses, schools, bridges and railway tracks. With incessant rain, rising water levels now threaten regions further downstream and there are serious concerns regarding the vulnerability of one Pakistan’s largest dams at Warsak near Peshawar. Millions of survivors have been left suffering with little food or shelter. With more heavy rain predicted, it is clear the situation is at tipping point and the speed of our response is vital.

 The Diocese of Wakefield is linked with the Diocese of Faisalabad in Pakistan. The Bishop of Wakefield said: ‘as a sign of our link and mutual affection we would like to collect any donations and send them to Pakistan through the organization Pakistan Christian Concern, with which the Bishop of Pontefract has collaborated in the past.’ Mr Masih hopes to highlight to the Pakistani government the generosity of Christian people and so hopes the Diocese’s fund-raising appeal will be an act of solidarity with those who are affected by the floods in Pakistan at present.

 Making a Donation

Please send cheques made payable to the ‘Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance’ marked ‘Pakistan appeal’ to Church House, 1 South Parade, Wakefield, WF1 1LP. The funds will be forwarded to Pakistan Christian Concern for local disbursement in Pakistan.