CFI pleads for cyclone devasted Christians in Bangladesh

A Christian advocacy group is reaching out to and pleading for vulnerable Christians in Bangladesh who were among the victims of the devastating cyclone Aila that has killed an estimated 175 people even as more bodies are being recovered.

The cyclone hit parts of coastal Bangladesh and eastern India on 25 May, triggering tidal surges and floods and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes.

Tiny Christian community affected by this has called for help from their Christian brethren. Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Christian advocacy group whose motto is to "help those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ," and who have been working in the country have stepped in to address the need of the suffering people.

"I have been getting calls from converted believers in the cyclone affected area in the Satkhira district," says a CFI worker in Bangladesh, who recently made a visit to the region to assess the needs of hundreds of Christian storm survivors.

According to the public statement made by CFI on Monday said, "There are about 100 families who have converted from Islam and Hinduism who are involved with our ministry. There are also a lot of traditional Christians in the Aila-affected area. The number of suffering Christians is more than 500 families. People are getting sick. Some are injured. They have lost everything: homes, clothing, and food."

In addition, the statement said, "Many Christian children and artisans who benefit from CFI's child sponsorship and micro-enterprise programs have also been severely affected by the storm. However, because few minority Christians will likely receive any government-supplied relief aid in this Muslim-dominated country, their survival may depend on the generosity of fellow believers who are willing and able to help."

"CFI is working to provide these desperate Christians with care packets filled with enough basic supplies of food, water, medicine and clothing to sustain a family for one week," the statement added.

The advocacy group urged Christians to donate generously for the unfortunate believers, who need help even at normal times due to persecution, it stated, "CFI relies on caring partners to make its work within the persecuted church a reality. If you would like to support this critical effort to provide care packets for Christian cyclone survivors in Bangladesh, please contact CFI today."

According to Reuters, the death toll in India and Bangladesh is estimated at 100 and 175 respectively, with 5.1 million people being displaced from their homes in India while thousands of people have also lost their homes in Bangladesh and the number is growing.

In Bangladesh, Hundreds of people were missing in the 15 affected districts, mostly on the coasts, where survivors desperately need food and drinking water.

Lack of clean drinking water and poor sanitary conditions have worried aid workers. There are already cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, and concern is mounting over a possible outbreak of cholera.

According to CFI, with a minimal cost of $25, these care packets "will help ensure that dozens of Christians survive the aftermath of Cyclone Aida."
"We will also distribute encouraging Bible verses among them (believers)," says CFI's co-worker.

"Please pray for Bangladesh and give a hand to these cyclone-affected believers," the statement pleaded.