AFRICA/CONGO - "Water and medicine are the most urgent needs," says the Nuncio in Brazzaville, who visited the most important reception centre

Brazzaville (Agenzia Fides) - "What continues to worry us are the homeless who have had their homes destroyed or are still in the area closed by the military authorities" says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Jan Romeo Pawlowski, Apostolic Nuncio in Brazzaville, devastated on March 4 due to a series of explosions from a munitions depot in the barracks of Mpila (see Fides 05/03/2012). The Nuncio visited some of the reception centres set up by the Church, the largest of which was set up at the Cathedral. "I was told by the leaders of this complex, there are about 4,000 people who have been welcomed. We try to do everything possible, several tents were set up, although the square opposite the Cathedral is quite limited".
Mgr. Pawlowski was struck "by the extraordinary popular solidarity": "There are people who continue to bring bread and other basic necessities, others prepare food, especially for children. An infirmary camp has been set up to treat the most urgent cases, in particular malaria and diarrhea". In this regard, the Nuncio added that "the most serious urgency is water. Drinking water was resolved because a chain of bottle distribution was created, but no water for washing, as well as for the toilets".
Finally, we ask what are the most important needs. "What is most needed are medicines. Simple ones are found, we were also able to collect some 'funds to buy some drugs to treat malaria, as well as disinfectant bandages. The problem will be proposed once the wave of emergency ends, when international solidarity weakens, but the needs will continue to exist," said the Nuncio.
Fides received the denial from the Community of Discalced Carmelites concerning the death of Father Jean-Marie Bukusa Malu, pastor of Notre Dame de Fatima in Mpila, who apparently died in the collapse of the church of St. Louis des Francais, where he went to celebrate a Mass at the time of the accident. "I have no reports of victims or injuries among church personnel" confirms the Nuncio to Fides. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 08/03/2012)