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Concerns grow over discrimination against Christian flood victims in Pakistan

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Published: Wednesday 08 September 2010

Concerns grow over discrimination against Christian flood victims in Pakistan

Project(s): 00-634, 41-919

Country: Pakistan

These Christians from Sajawal
are staying with relatives
after their homes were flooded

Concerns about discrimination against Christians and other minority groups affected by the floods in Pakistan are growing – after Barnabas Aid raised the alarm at the beginning of the crisis.

Nazir S. Bhatti, chairman of the Pakistan Christian Congress, said anti-Christian hatred was preventing aid from reaching many areas and called on the government for funds to be allocated to specific religious minorities.

National Pakistan newspaper Dawn made the issue the subject of an editorial last week following a protest rally in Hyderabad against the maltreatment of minority community flood victims. It said there had been numerous reports of people being refused shelter and discriminated against in the distribution of aid because of their ethnicity, caste or religion. The paper added:

“Discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds is deeply entrenched in Pakistan and will not change overnight. Yet that it is being used as an excuse to strip people of their rights as equal citizens even during a time of calamity is abhorrent.”

“Systematic discrimination”

The Vatican’s news agency, Fides, said Christians and Hindus faced “systematic discrimination” in the distribution of aid, which was “being managed either by government officials sympathetic to Islamic fundamentalism or by Muslim relief organizations.” Fides has been gathering accounts from Christians who have been denied shelter, healthcare and aid because of their faith. A local volunteer said: “The Christian refugees are often ignored. They are purposely not identified and registered. Thus, they are automatically excluded from any health care or food, as they supposedly do not exist.”

Islamic extremists have been quick to step in with flood relief, capitalizing on the crisis to win hearts and minds. It has been reported that international aid, including containers of cooking oil donated by Australia, was being distributed at a camp in Sukkur funded by a banned Pakistani militant group. The UN World Food Program and international aid organizations were giving out supplies at the base, which Jamaat-ud-Dawa – a group blacklisted by Pakistan and the UN as a terrorist front – is said to be supporting.

“Inhumane”

Barnabas Aid warned at the beginning of the crisis that Christian flood victims would be neglected in the distribution of aid (6 August), and has since received reports of discrimination in relief efforts. A group of Christian families who took refuge from rapidly rising flood waters on the top floor of the hospital in Nowshera were left to await rescue shivering and crying while Army helicopters prioritized the evacuation of Muslim families from nearby buildings.

Barnabas Aid targets its support to Christians through Christian partners on the ground to ensure this marginalized community receives the help it needs.

Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Aid, said:

“It is scandalous and inhumane that Christians and other minority groups in Pakistan are being refused shelter and life-saving provisions during a crisis of this magnitude. We call on the Pakistani government to ensure that all its citizens are treated equally and fairly at this time of crisis and afterwards.”

Give today

To sponsor a Pakistani Christian family who have been affected by the flooding or contact your nearest office and we will send you a Direct Debit form.

Online donations may be made to the 00-634 Disaster Relief Fund or 41-919 Flood Victims Family Sponsorship.

If you prefer to telephone, please call 1 866 936 2525 or 703 288 1681. Please quote project reference 00-634 (Disaster relief Fund).

If you prefer to send a check by post: Click this link for the address of our regional office. Please quote project reference 00-634 (Disaster relief Fund).

Please Pray:

That those who are giving out aid will respond positively to the concerns being raised by minority groups so that every flood victim receives the help they need.
That the international community will put pressure on the Pakistani government to ensure the fair distribution of resources.

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