Barnabas Fund helps Christians caught up in disastrous south-east Asian floods

Barnabas Fund helps Christians caught up in disastrous south-east Asian floods

As people across south-east Asia continue to suffer acutely in the worst floods for 50 years, Barnabas Fund is sending urgently needed help to Christians in four countries.

The severe flooding has wreaked havoc in parts of the Philippines

Hundreds of people, many of them children, have been killed in the floods, and millions have been seriously affected. Many have been forced to flee their homes, have seen their livelihoods swept away, or are living without sufficient water, food or sanitation.

In Thailand, one of the worst-hit countries, thousands of residents are rushing to leave the capital, Bangkok. Some northern parts of the city are already 90% submerged, and this weekend a huge run-off from the central plains is expected to inundate more districts.

About a third of all Thailand’s provinces are affected, and more than 360 people have died in this country alone. Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar), the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam have also been ravaged by the floods, triggered by unusually heavy seasonal rains.

Helping Christians in need

Barnabas Fund has launched an urgent appeal to help Christians caught up in the disaster. Working through Christian partner organisations, we will be providing aid of various kinds:

In Burma, we will feed 1,338 Christian families, mainly by providing rice and oil. The cost to feed one family for a month is around £17 (US$27; €19; AUS$26; NZ$33). We will also rebuild 112 houses at a cost of £60 (US$97; €68; AUS$90; NZ$118) per house.

In Thailand, we will be feeding Christian families in Bangkok (cost about £10 (US$16; €11; AUS$15; NZ$20) per week for four families) and in rural areas (cost about £20 (US$32; €23; AUS$30; NZ$39) per week for four families). We will also provide boats, costing £124 (US$200; €141; AUS$187; NZ$244) each, as well as blankets and mosquito nets.

In Cambodia, we will feed 600 Christian families with packages containing rice, noodles, salt and sugar, plus a blanket and a mosquito net. The cost of a package for one family is £12.50 (US$20; €14; AUS$19; NZ$25).

In the Philippines, we will provide seeds, fertiliser and related needs for Christian farmers who lost their rice crops just before harvest time. The cost is £58 (US$93; €66; AUS$87; NZ$114) per farmer.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said:

Conditions in some parts of south-east Asia continue to worsen, and Barnabas Fund is helping many of our stricken brothers and sisters with their most urgent needs. But much remains to be done, and the costs of rebuilding shattered lives and livelihoods will be huge. Will you please give whatever you can spare to help needy Christians?

Give Today

If you would like to help Christians affected in south-east Asia, please send your donation to project 00-634 (Disaster Relief Fund). Please click to donate online using our secure server.

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK. Please quote project reference 00-634 (Disaster Relief Fund).

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

For a quick donation of £3.00 by SMS (see terms and conditions here) text Barnabas/634 to 70007

Resources

There is a poster for download to advertise this appeal here and a PowerPoint slide for your church notices is available here.