Pakistan (MNN) — An unprecedented April heatwave affected Northern India and Pakistan during April and continues into early May. The temperatures reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) in the Balochistan region.
Nehemiah with FMI says one of his uncles in Pakistan died because of the heat. “We realize that this is part of climate change, but people and the government in Pakistan are not prepared for such hot temperatures. And right now, we’re talking about April and the beginning of May. June and July are still coming, which are the hottest months in Pakistan.”
The heatwave has also damaged crops, dropping the wheat yield by 50 percent. Trees bloomed too early, then withered. Farmers aren’t getting any help from the government, and don’t know what they will do next.
Power cuts
To make matters worse, people throughout Pakistan do not have reliable electricity amid severe power shortages. Nehemiah says many small businesses are struggling to even operate. “Urban centers experience load shedding up to six to ten hours every day. The rural regions fall prey to power outages lasting approximately 18 hours a day. Running water is a luxury in Pakistan.”
FMI partners work mostly in the rural areas of Pakistan, where the suffering has been greatest. Ask God to protect them. And pray the heatwave would end soon.
Romans 8 says the creation groans under the weight of death and decay. But God promises to set it free at Jesus’ return and the resurrection of the dead. Pray many across Pakistan would hear this news.
Header photo courtesy of FMI.
