Photos by Reuters/Rizwan Saeed
Pakistan (MNN) ― Thousands of earthquake survivors slept in the open last night in southwest Pakistan, even as temperatures dropped below zero. The 6.4-magnitude temblor struck early Wednesday, but in the worst-hit areas, aid has yet to arrive.
Ziarat Valley sustained the worst damage, where at least eight villages suffered the loss of the majority of the structures. Neighboring areas also had to grapple with landslides triggered by the quake.
In other areas, the military began dropping tents, medical supplies and blankets in the Baluchistan province quake zone.
Ken Little with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee says their partner in Pakistan is sending in an assessment team today. They're hoping to have a response plan in place by Friday. "Our first response will probably relate to shelter, blankets, that sort of thing. Initially, we usually start with a small project response of up to $10,000 US. If there's more interest from those who hear about the news, and some funds start coming in, then we respond on a larger scale."
But with regular attacks by al Qaida and the Taliban, and with a floundering economy, this natural disaster compounds an already severe crisis.
Because of the area the team is in, overt evangelism can make their work tricky. That means manpower won't be part of the aid they send. Money and supplies will be sent to their partner who is well-known in the region and has a strong Christian identity.
Little says the team allows their actions to introduce Christ. "They, by their presence, are making a statement. Their identification and their rather high-profile leadership does make a good statement from a Christian point of view."
