Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - “The dimensions of the tragedy on the Caribbean island La Española continue to grow” Father Luis Rosario Peña in the Dominican Republic told Fides. The death toll in the Dominican Republic is 300 and another 375 missing while in Haiti 1,700 are reported dead but the number may rise.
The worst hit area in Dominican Republic is Jimaní where the Silié River broke its banks. "The waters flooded an old dry basin of the river where people had built their poor huts. The people were still asleep when the whole basin was filled with ranging waters. Similar floods had not been seen here since 1921” the priest told Fides. Solidarity was spontaneous, no appeal was necessary: people set to work immediately to rescue stranded families and help survivors. Dozens of NGOs are at work to distribute emergency relief aid. The local parish has a team of 100 volunteers to distribute aid as it arrives under the direction of parish priest José Ramón de la Cruz and his assistant priest Fernando Peña. One major urgency is to provide clean water and prevent outbreaks of disease. According to Radhamés Lora Salcedo head of the National Emergency Commission, to prevent disease bodies are being buried in masse graves.
In Haiti the districts most affected are Mapou, Fonds Verettes, Bodarie, Thiote, Begli Manichi and Grand Gosier, where health-centres have suffered serious damage, most of the roads in the south east are underwater and it is impossible to supply aid or even reach the injured or take away the dead.
On behalf of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, addressed a telegramme of condolence to the Bishops in the most affected areas, expressing his closeness in prayer to the grieving and suffering people. The Pope, the telegramme said "prays for the eternal repose of the dead and begs Lord to console the stricken families and inspire sentiments of Christian solidarity in all who can help to alleviate the tragic effects of this natural catastrophe". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/5/2004 - Righe 27 Parole 383)
