Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dacca (Agenzia Fides) - The machine of humanitarian aid is moving despite a thousand difficulties to help three million displaced persons who survived the fury of cyclone Sidr, which struck southern Bangladesh on 15 November. In rescue and relief activity besides civil society aid workers and international aid, the local Caritas offices with the support of Caritas Internationalis is in front line to assist the victims.
“We are relying on Caritas Bangladesh, which has the necessary personnel, know-how, structures and organisation”, Fr. Silvano Garello, Xaverian mission in Dacca told Fides. “Catholic parishes, associations and missionary communities anxious to help the victims refer to Caritas which is coordinating relief efforts with other organisations. At the moment we are planning humanitarian aid and how to reached isolated areas since many districts are flooded and there are no means of communications. We are doing our best. What is needed is a united effort”.
The missionary said: “Clean water is the prime necessity. There are no wells: the people used to collect rain water but the containers have been destroyed or filled with salt water. Secondly the people need food since the cyclone ruined harvests and thousands of families have lost their means of livelihood. The disaster is the worst in a decade and millions could die of consequences, hunger, thirst, epidemics of disease which break out easily in these conditions ”.
Caritas Bangladesh has begun to distribute food to 120,000 people thanks to 2 million dollars supplied by Caritas Internationalis. Caritas will also distribute plastic sheeting, tents and cooking utensils. Caritas Bangladesh started its activity of relief aid and resettling following a cyclone in 1971, which hit the coasts of Bangladesh. Since then it has supplied more than 100 million dollars worth of humanitarian aid and assistance. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2007 righe 27 parole 271)
