I would like to thank the Mission Fund of Mosta for the generous donation of €2,000 which will partly fund a safe drinking water project, which we, the Dominican Sisters of Malta are carrying out in a very depressed community outside the city of Lahore, Pakistan.

Our intention is to provide outlets of purified water which will be available for the public, principally the families in the village.

Why water? All life depends on water. Contaminated water is the cause of the many maimed babies born in this particular zone, where the effluent drainage from textile factories and pharmaceutical factories flows freely in a nearby canal; besides the problem of the acid fumes, the underground water is contaminated.

The open sewage also adds to the problem. Women are the ones who suffer most because during pregnancy, the foetus is affected. The babies are born with spina bifida or with talipes and other deformities, like stumpy fingers and other protruding joints. This has been confirmed because some ago we conducted research with the help of the medical staff of the civil hospital and it was proven that the problem in the area is all due to the consumption of this polluted water.

This safe drinking water project serves all the community, not women only. Men and children are all exposed to severe enteric problems all along. Through a kind heart and a generous love for one’s neighbour someone reading this report may be moved to take it seriously and assist us financially to complete the project.

Please continue to help the Mission Fund of Mosta so that our brothers and sisters in far-flung areas of the world where the poor are emarginated and unwanted share the love of God. Love is God’s gift andwe go there to share it with these people.

Contributions to the Mission Fund may be given online at missionfund@global.net.mt: HSBC, Account No 061197 448050; BOV Account No 163007 98019; APS, Account Number 200008 20762; Banif Account No 000879 63101. More information is available at www.missionfund.org.mt.