Southern Baptists continue to respond to natural disasters, both overseas and at home.
The Oct. 8 earthquake that shook northern Pakistan and India has the region scrambling once again to meet enormous needs as recovery continues from the Dec. 26 tsunami that ravaged the countries of Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives.
Southern Baptist disaster relief response to the earthquake will be similar to its response to the tsunami, except the threat of winter is looming. The response is focused on meeting medical needs, providing food, building temporary shelter and helping individuals generate income, said Southern Baptist disaster relief specialist Philip Monroe (name changed for security reasons).
Southern Baptist workers began distributing more than 13 tons of food staples to survivors in a rural Pakistan town Oct. 18. About 30,000 people live in the area and about 600 died there.
The first team of Southern Baptist volunteers arrived in Pakistan Oct. 21. Monroe noted that there is a great need for medical personnel.
One bright spot in Pakistan has been the national response, he said, noting that much of that has come from the Christian community there. Christian churches are buying and taking in supplies, translating for international relief workers, listening to the victims as they share their stories of grief and making plans for long-term service.
Southern Baptists are also continuing to respond to needs in hurricane-hit Guatemala and El Salvador, as well as to those hurt in the eruption of El Salvador’s Ilamatepec volcano.
In the United States, Southern Baptists in New England are assisting at least two towns hit hard by flooding and strong winds in the region. Crews are assembling and assessment teams have been deployed for flood cleanup to communities in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, said Cal Bankston, disaster relief coordinator for the Baptist Convention of New England. As of press time, Bankston had heard no reports of damaged Baptist churches.
Parts of the Northeast received more than a foot of rain in October, causing major flooding and damaging hundreds of homes, according to The Associated Press. At least 12 people have been killed from Pennsylvania to Maine.
Southern Baptist disaster relief is also continuing the response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita while bracing for Hurricane Wilma, which was slated to cut across the southern tip of Florida at press time.
According to Mickey Caison, Southern Baptist disaster operations center manager, disaster relief was making plans with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Florida Baptist Convention to coordinate a potential response. Evaluation of available disaster relief units and volunteers is ongoing, he noted. (Compiled from wire reports)
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