S
T Helping in the
Reconstructing houses and restoring homes
Surveying the needs
Our team took surveys of flood-affected areas to
get an idea of how to help with the resettlement of
the IPDs: “There is still two to three feet of water
standing there. The city looks like the ruins of a ‘lost
city’; the devastation is enormous.”
“It is wonderful to see people returning to their
homes, but it reminds us all that now the task is much
bigger, and our goal very challenging, to resettle
people and construct houses. We  need  wisdom as
we collect  data, prepare reports and  plan an effective
strategy. The reconstruction of 500 houses is a
huge task and to some extent beyond our team’s
capacity: we need to make five visits to each lo-
cation to ascertain the needs for reconstruction
work,” said the team leader.
In November, over 50% of the IDPs returned to
their homes: “Most have no house still standing
and the remaining houses are unsafe. Many
people  are  living  without  electricity,clean
drinking water or food. The bad smell
of decaying dead bodies of animals and
organic material is everywhere.  Many  people
have wounds, skin infections and scabies. They
still need our help. Others are still waiting in
the camps for government aid.”
In the north
By December, we began house construction in the
north. We had to employ masons and labourers to
do the physical labour, as no one in our team had the
right experience. We plan to complete 50 houses
every month, honouring our commitment to pro-
vide 250 houses within a six month period, and
finish at the end of June. We are on target so far!
RELIEF
“Every house is different: if the house is still stand-
ing, we do maintenance work, using existing bricks,
mending cracks, repairing roof tiles. A few houses
need to be rebuilt from the foundations up, but not
so many – perhaps three out of every ten,” said the
team surveyor.
People have already moved into their restored
homes: “It was impossible, looking at our house, to
imagine living in it, but you have made it possible.”
The weather is very cold for us, at around 4°-5° C,
which is not a problem for the reconstruction work.
In the summer we have to continually sprinkle water
onto the cement to keep it moist; in winter, water
is less needed, so it’s easier for the reconstruction
work.
In the south
We are establishing a model cluster of 20 two-
roomed houses with proper drainage, forming a
community courtyard with a community room,
toilets, washing facilities, plus a separate area for ani-
mals. These will be proper flood-resistant homes,
replacing former mud buildings. We intend to in-
troduce long-term projects with the reconstruction
work: micro enterprises to raise living standards,
provide education, health and agricultural advice,
enabling people to be self supporting long-term.
We already have good relationships with the people.
We met them again and again, as we gave out
initial food parcels, and then returned with winter
packages and medical help. They have seen we are
really interested in their restoration, which gives us
courage to speak openly about our motivation for
helping them, and our love for God.
and DevelOPment:
A
G Flood Disaster
E
T H R E E
We are grateful to
God
As we look back at the three
stages we have been able to
accomplish, we are amazed at
events.
OM Pakistan has  received  alert, warning that 200,000 people
$1 million already, and so far
has spent approximately 35%
on food, blankets, medicines,
and the items in Stages 1 and 2.
“God has raised up both finances  ravaged areas, with as many as 1,500
and the people to help and
partner with us, so that we
have been able to increase the
number of houses, and bless
more people as a result,” said
the OM Pakistan leader.
“If additional funds come in,
we may consider investing  us, when we said we would come, we came,” said
in dispensaries, centres, medical  a team leader.  “We had committed to helping
clinics, that sort of thing, as in
many areas the local facilities,
like schools, are 10km away
from the villages they serve. We
will have to see.
These are exciting, challenging  and livelihoods laid waste, especially
times for us. We know that
God is using us, not only to help,
but so that others will see God
through us.”
We are grateful to
you too
Thank you for partnering with us,
for praying, contributing, open-
ing your hearts and supporting  others were not helping. It seemed a good
us. There is still work to be done!
Our latest Flood dvd is now
available.
Further information
contact your local OM office or
us direct at info.pak@om.org or
communications.casr@om.org
Mercy in Action
“The worst disaster
I have ever witnessed,”
pronounced United  Nations  was a terrible thing to happen to our country!
Secretary G eneral B an K i-moon.
On 2nd August 2010, the Pakistan
government issued a three day flood
would be affected.
Within two days, it was reported
that three million people had been
internally displaced (IDPs) in flood-
people killed.
Water continued to pour into the
land, causing massive destruction
to homes and families, crops, and
whole areas of land.
And it continued to rain....
Temperatures rose, causing snow to
melt from mountain areas, resulting
in more water to flow. Old flood de-
fenses were swept away. Stagnant
water was breeding malaria, cholera
and other diseases.
Agriculture had been devastated
in the rural areas.
Electricity cables and lines were
down too, as infrastructure was torn
out, and roads collapsed, making it
very difficult to travel.
RELIEF and Development:
Spring 2011
Our Response
As news of the flood started to come through to
OM Pakistan, we fell to our knees in prayer. This
What could we do? The scale seemed enormous,
and we were so few. But God is bigger than all of
us. We would ask Him.
We decided that we could help some families, and
would do so as best we could.
Having been involved in the Pakistan Earthquake
Relief effort in 2005, we had experience in how
we might be God’s hands and feet, and began to
plan. and other household essentials in order to be able
to use the dried food packages.
We would go to the areas where we knew people,
We also realised that some needed medical help:
and see what the situation was like. We would ask
babies and young children were becoming dehy-
people we trusted to help us take surveys of the
drated, and clean water was not available to drink.
families, looking to their needs, and asking them
So we began to address these needs.
what would benefit them.
“As people became used to us, they began look-
Our team leaders went to the North and South,
ing out for us on the road; they started to trust
talking to villagers, taking time to listen and dis-
cover those in greatest need.
them, and we needed to be faithful. In this way, we
“We went again and again to make sure exactly
have been able to build wonderful relationships.”
what was needed was provided,” said a team
leader. “There was no point in giving them aid
The weeks went by. Our teams were increasingly
that they couldn’t use for the stage at which they
were at. Our response needs to be tailored to stretched, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
But they carried on, bringing practical love to
where they are, not where we think they are.”
those who needed it most.
Having decided upon three stages to our relief
“God has provided us with all we need for the
effort, we selected 1,000 families to help. This
commitment we’ve made: praise Him! God has
committed us to raising at least $25,000. We set
been faithful, and we need to be faithful in our
to work.
responsibilities,” says OM Pakistan leader.
Families stranded by the flood waters were
starving and grateful for our help: “You are
the first to have reached us with aid. We
have not eaten in two days.”
So we began to think of helping those whom
Biblical principle.
Many people had left the ruins of their
homes to go to camps. They arrived with
the clothes they stood up in, many having
lost everything, including family members.
Although the Army was providing some
with food, we provided others with at least
one hot meal, as well as cooking utensils,
Mercy in Action
S S
T T
A A
G G
E E
O N E T W O

Bringing emergency supplies of food packages and basic clothing to the desperate
“We distributed food to far and quite dangerous places.
At one place we found a Madrasa, a religious training centre, and asked them if they
needed food. They told us they were very hungry and had not eaten in two days.
We asked them if they were happy to take food from Christians, and they willingly
accepted food packets from us.
Bringing essentials of winter clothing, cooking utensils, mosquito nets and water filters
“Your Christian brothers care for you - that is why we are here.”
After surveying to distribute warm clothes to flood victims in the severe cold weather,
we planned to help 3,500 families in both the north and south. We printed special stickers
on the packages saying:
“Let us share in your sorrow. This relief package is from your Essai (Christian) brothers.”

In more distant places, we discovered villagers who had had nothing to eat for three People receiving the packages said: “We are thankful to you that you came to help us in such
days: the situation is terrible! There is a shortage of food items in the markets and cold weather. We have seen you before and you guys do a hard work for us and bring things
the wholesaler has already doubled his prices.” that we need”.

Medical Camps set up Raining and raining IDP Camp relief Sowing, treating and filtering
With all the water standing around, Increased flooding caused many to Our ministry partners asked us urgently to install hand
As the rains continued to fall, the water went on rising, flood-
the wounds received during the flood leave their homes looking for shelter. pumps for the thousands of people living without clean
ing villages, and forcing people to move once more. Roads
torrents and the lack of food and clean The army sent them to IDP camps. Trees drinking water on the banks of the River Indus. We were
disappeared or collapsed under the pressure, making it almost
water, people were in bad shape. We and dry wood were chopped up for fire- able to help with food for 200 and 10 water pumps.
impossible to travel. The only useful vehicles were tractors and
decided it would be necessary to set rough carts. wood, changing the landscape.
up basic medical camps in situ, to Our medical camps have served 8,427 people so far:
help as best we could to meet the “In order to bring relief goods, our team leader drove through “We are now having to feed increased “Your team comes here like angels. You didn’t just help
emergencies. the night, arriving safely just before the road was completely numbers, and provide a hot meal, as well us with medicine but you also pray for us; this is the first
destroyed by overflowing flood water, and submerging the as dry rations. We are also giving out san- time in my life any team comes and helps us like brothers.
While our objective is to save lives by
super-highway. Praise God he was kept safe.” dals, clothes and crockery. Due to the lack You have good medicines.”
providing them with food we do not
of food and space available, fights and
want to see them dying of diseases.
In spite of all this rain, there is no drinking water! People are disputes are breaking out,” said the team “Many organisations have arranged medical camps but
“It is the second day of medical camp, thirsty ; nor can they cook, as the rain does not let up, and has leader. “However, many of the regular they do not have complete medicine and they also did
and we are already feeling the work- soaked the firewood. Few families have stoves, cooking pots meal receivers become our friends and not check all the patients. They just make their reports,
load. Patients keep on coming right or crockery, anyway. regard it as a gift for which they have no but you are different. You came with complete medicines
to the very end: goodness knows how return. In this way we can share God’s and you also check all the patients; your doctors are
many we saw! Our only lady doctor Our little truck chugs doggedly to the villages and towns, bring- love.” also very nice and their behavior is also very kind with
has been kept very busy; she also ing what aid we can. Sadly, people are becoming desperate, patients.”
helped two mothers deliver babies and some violent - their need is so great. “We have 12 people “We trust you guys,” one man said, “and
under these hostile conditions.” travelling in our team, and keep one man posted on each know that you will give to the needy November is when the farmers sow seed. But most of
top corner of the truck, rather than keeping it for yourselves like the land had not
That day, a total of 265 patients to prevent pillaging. others are doing.” been prepared due
received treatment for malaria, to flood damage.
diarrhoea and fever, as well as It’s still not enough to deal Another said: “We thank OM Team for this Through our generous
snake bites and skin diseases. with these encounters. brilliant effort providing food goods. I can donors, we were able to
Certain medications were just not When people are  desperate clearly see the passion you have to help provide 52 farmers with
available locally and had to be supplied they do desperate things,” the people.” seed and fertilizers,
from Lahore. said a team member.
for a March wheat crop.

Stranded villagers were grateful for our help Over 2 million internally displaced people live in camps

RELIEF and Development: Mercy in Action RELIEF and Development: Mercy in Action