WELS is stepping in to help refugees displaced by violence between the Taliban and Pakistani Army in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. WELS Committee on Relief sent $3,000 last week to the synod's contact in Pakistan, who will purchase and distribute essentials like food and small coolers within the camps.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, almost 2.5 million Pakistani people have fled the combat zone since the beginning of the month, making it one of the largest and fastest displacements to occur anywhere in the world in recent years. These refugees join almost 550,000 other Pakistanis who were displaced by violence and natural disasters since last August.

Rev. Michael Duncan, chairman of WELS South Asia Administrative Committee, has been in contact with Pakistani Christians in the region who report that people have been killed in the crossfire and others have perished from exhaustion. "The fighting has caused millions to leave their homes, and this has caused great suffering," says Duncan.

Although resident missionaries are not allowed in this largely Muslim country, over the past seven years WELS has been able to provide Christian literature to people in Pakistan. In the North West Frontier Province, many of those copies were destroyed by the Taliban. But Duncan says with the help of Pakistani Christians, WELS may be able to get more literature into the refugee camps when the food and supplies are distributed.

"Please remember the people of Pakistan in your prayers and ask God to use these crises to lead many to a knowledge of the gospel in Christ," he says.