Pak flood affected Christians, other minorities facing aid discrimination

Islamabad, Aug 27 (ANI): Christians and other minorities affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan are allegedly facing "systematic discrimination" in the distribution of aid.

"Christian refugees are often ignored. They are purposely not identified and registered. Thus, they are automatically excluded from any healthcare or food, as they supposedly do not exist," the Daily Times quoted a local NGO worker, as saying.

Earlier, the Fides news agency, a branch of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, claimed that aid was handled either by Muslim relief organisations or by government officials close to fundamentalists. Both were allegedly discriminating against Christians and other minorities in distributing aid essential for survival.

About 200,000 Christian refugees in Punjab and about 600,000 Christians and Hindus in Sindh are reportedly affected by the phenomenon. (ANI)