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GFA World Calls for Prayer as India Water
Crisis Threatens Hundreds of Millions
Critical water shortages have
'reached point of no return,'
megacity Chennai fights thirst
Christian mission agency GFA World
(formerly: Gospel for Asia, www.gfa.ca) to-
day called for Christians to pray as South In-
dia remains in the grip of a critical water
shortage that threatens hundreds of millions
of lives.
As many as 600 million people – almost half
of India's 1.3 billion population – face acute
water shortages, and experts warn some cities
could run out of water entirely by 2020. For
GFA's special report on the water crisis, visit
www.gfa.ca/press/water-crisis.
India is prone to cycles of devastating
drought and severe flooding. Due to weather
patterns in different parts of the country,
some areas suffer drought while other regions
experience floods at the same time. This
month, torrential monsoon rains lashed part
of northeast India and Nepal with flash floods
claiming more than 200 lives and affecting
10 million people.
– and this puts enormous pressure on families
desperate for drinking water."
GFA-supported pastors are purchasing water
from private water carriers to provide much-
needed drinking water. Covered in dust, peo-
ple are also desperate for water to bathe,
wash their clothes, and clean cooking uten-
sils.
"Currently, we're finding difficulty getting
water even for drinking," one pastor said.
The water shortages are sparking tensions in
the manufacturing hub of Chennai as compe-
tition for limited water becomes fierce. "I
remember my mother telling me that the next
war will be over water, but I never thought
I'd have to fight others to take a shower," res-
ident Richard Lynrah told local media.
The crisis has shut down many hotels and
heightened fears that critical services such as
hospitals could suffer.
The devastating drought started last year
when monsoon rains failed to come, and has
intensified as the post-summer monsoon sea-
son, beginning in June, has also come up dry
so far. Chennai gets 85 percent of its rainfall
during its two rainy seasons from June to
September and then from October to Decem-
ber.
The megacity of Chennai in Southeast India
had virtually run out of water until rain on
July 15 raised hopes of relief for the city's
nine million residents, who have been largely Celebrating its 40th anniversary this month,
dependent on water shipped in via trucks and GFA World is well known for its unique
"Jesus Wells" program that helps drill thou-
trains.
sands of wells in South Asia, providing a reli-
able source of clean water for entire commu-
"Every day that the rains delay, the crisis
deepens," said GFA World founder Dr. K.P. nities and millions of people. The mission
has also helped to distribute tens of thousands
Yohannan. "We've reached a desperation
of household BioSand water filters in com-
point, and the people of Chennai are crying
munities.
out for rain. I am asking our friends around
the world to please pray and intercede on be-
"GFA World stands with the people of Chen-
half of those in Chennai." GFA workers in
nai at this critical hour and we will do all we
Canada and in all our international offices
can to come alongside families and show
have been praying together to ask God to
them God's love in practical ways," Dr. Yo-
send more rain.
hannan said.
Despite the recent rain, with the monsoon
failing to come on time, the city's four main Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019,
GFA, www.gfa.ca is a leading Christian mis-
reservoirs have completely dried up and
wells have also run dry in the country's sixth sion agency, bringing vital assistance and
largest city. Desperate residents are lining up spiritual hope to millions, especially to those
for hours in the heat, hoping to fill their plas- who have yet to hear the "good news" of Je-
tic buckets with water shipped in by a fleet of sus Christ. This has included more than
70,000 sponsored children, free medical
government-run trucks. The few who can
afford to buy water from private sellers have camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages
and remote communities, over 4,000 wells
seen the price more than double since May.
drilled, over 11,000 water filters installed,
income-generating Christmas gifts for more
"The coconut trees are withered. The cattle
have no grass. The wells are dried up," said a than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual
GFA-supported pastor in Chennai -- the big- teaching available in 110 languages in 14
nations through radio ministry. For all the
gest city in the state of Tamil Nadu.
latest news, visit our Press Room at
https://press.gfa.org/news.
"Pastors and those in their communities are
struggling every day to get enough water for
their basic needs," Dr. Yohannan said. "The
water trucks come only once every two days