Orissa's persecuted Christians get relief

More than $38,000 has been released from the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and general relief funds to distribute a month's worth of basic food items to 2,135 families, representing a total of about 12,810 people, said Francis Horton, who with his wife Angie directs work in Central and South Asia for Baptist Global Response, an international relief and development organization that is coordinating the effort. The director of the Orissa project, whose name has been withheld for security reasons, said the effort seeks "to bring some relief to Christians who have suffered loss at the hands of persecutors in the state of Orissa. These brothers and sisters have nowhere to go. Many are afraid to go back to their homes. At present they are unable to go home unless they convert to Hinduism." The project, which is being implemented in partnership with Baptists in India, will purchase and distribute lentils and rice to families in three districts of Orissa, Horton said. Blankets also will be supplied as needed to the families. read it all from:http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29527