wfn.org | CWSW Responds To Drought In Afghanistan and Pakistan

[CAROL.FOUKE@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org 

Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227

57NCC5/31/00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDITORS: When listing organizations receiving funds for emergency response to Southern Asia Drought, please include:

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Southern Asia Drought, #976916, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.  On-line contributions to: http://www.churchworldservice.org

CWS works in more than 80 countries, including the U.S., in disaster relief, human development and refugee assistance.  It is a ministry of the National Council of Churches, whose 35 Protestant and Orthodox member communions have a combined membership of more than 50 million.

CWS RESPONDS TO DROUGHT IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

	May 31, 2000, NEW YORK ---- Church World Service (CWS) is seeking $250,000 to provide food, livestock fodder and seeds to aid 4,500 families in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the wake of a severe drought which has driven thousands of families from their homes, withered crops and killed livestock.

	The CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan office has developed a plan to provide emergency relief to some of the most vulnerable families over a period of three months.  In Afghanistan, where the situation is particularly acute, the project will provide food packages to 4,000 families.  Each three-month food package for a family of eight will include wheat, cooking oil, rice, beans, sugar and tea.  

In Pakistan, the seed and distribution program will aid 500 families by providing food and dry fodder blocks for livestock in immediate danger.  Currently there are some 8,500 animals believed to be at risk. In Pakistan, the program will be implemented by CWS through its partner, Participatory Village Development Program (PVDP).

	As a result of the drought, thousands of families have been evacuated or forced to leave in search of water, food and fodder. Consequently, child mortality and malnutrition rates have risen, especially among children, women, and the elderly. 
	
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