News Detail
7.4 Earthquake Devastates Northern Pakistan & India
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
October 8th dawned the way every morning does in the mountainous region known as Kashmir, an area shared by both Pakistan and India. No one could have predicted the devastation that was about to occur. In a moment thousands had lost their lives, and those who had the good fortune of surviving, lost homes and businesses- everything needed to survive. Many relief organizations now say that the crisis that has followed the earthquake has the potential of being even more devastating than the first. Put donor weary individuals together with financially depleted relief organizations and that equals little to no response for those on the ground.
Upon the heels of the news STI sent an assessment team into the region that came back echoing what the media had said. If help did not arrive soon thousands more would die from the snow than from the actual earthquake. The team identified and earmarked six remote villages for relief efforts.
A 12-member STAT (Supreme Task Assistance Team) was immediately summoned for the task. Through the help of various donors, STI was able to purchase tents and blankets helping some 316 families. These totally Muslim communities live among the cliffs and on the sides of mountains and were not only stunned to hear that help was coming, but that help was coming from Christians! As Larry Derstine, Pastor Daniel Kumar and the STAT team arrived, word spread quickly- Angels from heaven have come to help us! Temperatures had already dropped significantly posing as a real threat to the many infants and elderly of the community.
Less than a week later the team resurfaced, filthy from the lack of showers, exhausted from the non-stop work in horrific conditions, yet filled with a deep joy that comes only from putting yourself on the line for someone in trouble.
Efforts in the region will no doubt need to continue. Right now no one is able to come or go because of the deep snows. It comforts us to know that because of your faithful support there are those whose lives will be saved from the bitter cold!
Plans are underway to make contact again and to establish an ongoing work in the region.
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