May 18, 2008

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is assisting some of the millions of Pakistani civilians who are being displaced by increased government assaults on Taliban militants in the last month. Over the weekend, Pakistan's government urged civilians to continue to leave areas where fighting is ongoing according to Al Jazeera reports early today.

CRWRC (www.crwrc.org), an international faith-based relief and development organization based in the U.S. and Canada, is assisting several thousands who are displaced in camps in Mansoor town, Swabi province, in Pakistan's NorthWest Frontier Province. The agency is providing mosquito nets, sleeping mats, and water containers to those who are – and are often again – on the run for their lives from the fighting.

According to a U.N. response plan complied in mid-May, the number of people displaced in-country by the fighting since 2008 now totals 1,746,021. The most recent mass movement of people from their homes since last month is now more than 1 million registered individuals who are being housed in displaced persons camps or with host families.

The U.N.'s extended funding expectation for humanitarian aid in Pakistan may total more than $500 million through December 2009.

CRWRC's Grace Wiebe, a disaster response program manager, says that the organization's niche is to supply aid where agencies like the World Food Program might not. "CRWRC is meeting the essential needs of Pakistani civilians, helping people in camps and host communities reduce the stress on local economies and families," Wiebe says.

CRWRC, which seeks out the poorest of the poor, is working with the Interfaith League Against Poverty (ILAP), a Pakistani relief organization and long-time partner. The organizations most recently responded to devastating earthquakes in Northern Pakistan in 2005 and 2008, supplying food, water, shelter, winter clothing, and housing reconstruction.

In the current unrest, CRWRC and ILAP will assist single or widowed women and their families who are further devastated by the violence and displacement. CRWRC has made an initial fund release to ILAP, and in cooperation other partner organizations, is planning for $1.5 million in long-term relief, which will include hygiene kits, kitchen utensils, baby food, and cooking stoves.

CRWRC is appealing for funds to assist the people of northern Pakistan where reports indicate that there are significant casualties, restricted freedom of movement, a devastated infrastructure, and a failure to protect the civilian population. The people of Northern Pakistan desperately need assistance.

Financial donations to CRWRC can be given online at http://www.crwrc.org/, or phoned in to 1-800-55-CRWRC. Please designate your gift, "Pakistan Refugees 2009," or mail it to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49560-0600.

CRWRC is a non-profit, faith-based agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America ministering in development, relief, and justice education to people in need around the world

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee