Last week I contacted the person at our United Church head office responsible for emergency relief efforts to get more information about assisting those affected by floods in Pakistan.http://www.united-church.ca/communications/news/response/pakistan-flooding-updates8 I realized that my own sense of urgency just wasn't there and wondered why. He thanked me for calling because hardly anyone had phoned, and we agreed that because the situation in Pakistan is so murky and complex, including connections to terrorism, that Westerners may not be responding. And Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country.Of course the suffering children of Pakistan aren't terrorists.On Sunday I invited folk to give through the United Church Emergency Relief Fund which works with partner churches and organizations in many countries.These concerns are borne out in an article in yesterday's Globe and Mail. It included these stats:
How far the fundraising for Pakistan is lagging
How far the fundraising for Pakistan is lagging
Pakistan floods (2010)
Total Funding as of Aug. 16/10 $229 million
Affected population 14 million
Funding per affected person $16
Haiti earthquake (2010) $3.3 billion
3 million
Affected population 14 million
Funding per affected person $16
Haiti earthquake (2010) $3.3 billion
3 million
$1,000
Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami (2004) $6.2-billion (U.S.)
5 million
$1,200
5 million
$1,200
A Canadian doctor working in the relief effort acknowledged that far more people died in the tsunami and the earthquake, but dead people don't need assistance.
Do you think your sense of compassion has been affected by Pakistan's shadier realities? Are you planning to respond with a financial contribution?
I think the media is somewhat to blame for the "so-called" lack of interest. Haiti was big in the news for days, frontpage. I also think people are burned out from giving over and over. That said I did send money.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that the Canadian government is now matching our contributions.
ReplyDelete