In early August, Tearfund launched an emergency appeal for Pakistan's floods. "The situation is dire," says Ashraf Mall, Tearfund's representative in Pakistan. "To date, twenty million people have been affected by the floods, 1,600 people have died and now cholera is becoming widespread."

Umer Hazrat was awakened by the power of the rising flood water. He and his family escaped the flood waters and were found along with other families by Tearfund Partners, SSEWA‑Pak, living by the roadside on a raised piece of land surrounded by floodwater. Umer was a farmer, he had lost everything.

Thanks to the generous giving of people in churches across the UK and Ireland, Tearfund is supporting SSEWA‑Pak enabling them to provide hope as well as practical help. Thousands of people have received food, plastic sheeting for shelter, stoves, cups, plates, towel, soap, toothpaste and antiseptics. Tearfund and their partners in many countries work together to respond to such disasters, and many ongoing projects to improve education, health, living conditions and poverty.

You can help: by praying for Tearfund and their partners in Pakistan and all parts of the world; by supporting Tearfund with a donation to the Pakistan emergency appeal, and other ongoing work; by finding out more about Tearfund from the Tearfund website.

The work of Tearfund is our particular focus in the months of March and September.