Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Caritas India is at the forefront in the emergency aid after two catastrophic events that, almost simultaneously, have hit two areas of the country: the earthquake in the northeast (in the Himalayan region) and the major floods in Orissa ( Central and Eastern India). "We are very concerned about the devastating floods in Orissa and the earthquake which struck the states of Sikkim and the northern part of West Bengal", says Anthony Chettri to Fides, managing director of Caritas India for the Northeast area. Caritas has mobilized and is trying to raise awareness in the Catholic communities of the entire nation, involving them in a display of solidarity.
With regards to the earthquake in the Northeast, while the number of victims continue to increase (over 74 deaths and hundreds of refugees), the rescuers are in difficulty because of bad weather. The Catholic Church is trying to make a contribution at a regional level, as explained by His Excellency Mons Thomas Menaparampil Thomas to Fides, Archbishop of Guwahati (Northeast India): "The most affected area is the diocese of Darjeeling. We are in contact with the local Bishop to monitor the situation and organize possible action. We have expressed our solidarity in word and in prayer, but we are also ready to launch coordinated humanitarian action. For the affected areas in Nepal and Bhutan, however, contacts are very difficult and it is necessary to wait".
Further south, in Orissa, Caritas has provided more than 500 thousand rupees - a first tranche immediately - for medical aid to people affected, because there is a risk of epidemics, especially in the districts of Puri and Cuttack. "The government, the Church, civil society, are putting into action a joint effort. Volunteers and normal people are doing their best to assist the victims" says Fr. Manoj Kumar Nayak to Fides and who is in charge of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, the largest in the state of Orissa. Working alongside the "Catholic Relief Services", the local church has already planned to provide accommodation for 5,500 internally displaced persons without any discrimination of religion, caste, ethnicity. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/09/2011)
