Emergency Response

August 4, 2010
Updated: August 17, 2010

In response to the heavy monsoon flooding in Pakistan and the unprecedented human and environmental crisis it has created there, The United Church of Canada has issued a special church-wide appeal calling its members to donate to "Pakistan Flood Relief."

According to the United Nations (UN), the floods have affected an estimated 20 million people. Continuing monsoon rains have washed away roads and bridges and are hampering relief efforts. The rains also sometimes make it impossible for relief and rescue helicopters to reach stranded communities. More rains are expected.

Members of ACT Alliance (the network of churches and Christian aid agencies that enables global responses to emergencies) are already in place, assisting those affected by the floods. The United Church of Canada, with other members of ACT, is closely monitoring the crisis and has already contributed funds in support of an ACT appeal.

As a result of donations made by its members, the United Church sent $25,000 to ACT immediately following initial news of the crisis, and has now sent an additional $40,000. ACT members in Pakistan are working diligently to deliver assistance including food, water, tents, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and emergency medical care.

The United Church has also contributed $75,000 through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). The funds will be used for a CFGB member-supported project providing kits containing rice, lentils, flour, oil, sugar, salt, tea, and spices.

The United Church will receive donations to its Emergency Response Fund to support ACT Alliance in providing a coordinated response with other church organizations. It will take many years for affected communities in Pakistan to recover from this disaster which follows relatively closely on heels of a major earthquake just a few years ago. Support will be needed for housing, rebuilding vital infrastructure, and rehabilitating the heavily damaged agriculture sector. The United Church emphasizes such long-term accompaniment.

Learn what United Church partner ACT Alliance is doing for Pakistan Flood Relief.

How United Church Members Can Help

For more information on how you can help, please visit Pakistan Flooding: How United Church Members Can Help

For more information, contact:

• Gary Kenny
  Program Coordinator, Emergency Response
  The United Church of Canada
  Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 4051
  Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4051
  E-mail: Gary Kenny