Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Geneva (Fides Service) - The world’s response to meet the tsunami disaster has been exceptional and revealed that it is possible to “globalise solidarity”, but once the emergency is over will promises for funds for rebuilding be kept? What is more, this disaster must not make us forget the many smaller ‘tsunami , AIDS, hunger, war which afflict so many people every day. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva shared his reflections with Fides.
“Considering that the disaster caused 150,000 dead and 5 million homeless, international solidarity at the government and non government level has been exceptional and the effort to globalise solidarity is evident. First of all, the necessity to save most vulnerable the children triggered a contest in solidarity beyond all expectation. A total sum of 3 billion dollars have been pledged to help affected people with emergency aid and rebuilding. Already 717 million dollars are in the hands of international aid agencies. But we must wait and see if in 5 or 6 months time when the emergency is over, promises are kept. There is a danger that as it has happened with other natural disasters once the spotlight is turned off, interest and assistance begins to wane”.
Archbishop Tomasi said “rebuilding is important and it must involve the local community in decision making so funds made generously available are not wasted or lost in the pockets of corruption. The economic effect of the tsunami will be heavy: at least 2 million people according to the Asian Development Bank are now below the poverty line in need of development programmes to rebuild villages and towns, small and large businesses”.
With regard to the Church’s relief work “Catholics responded with admirable readiness and competence” - Archbishop Tomasi told Fides - “offering money and help on the spot to save many lives, thanks to the presence of missionaries and volunteers in the affected areas. Not to be forgotten either, the immediate response from Catholic parishes, schools, institutes which offered immediate shelter to the homeless. Those who said this stemmed from a desire to proselytise are badly informed: Catholic missionaries and NGOs offer a service to every person in need without discrimination or ulterior motives and I personally am convinced that this is understood by the greater part of Hindus in India, Buddhists in Sri Lanka, and Muslims in Indonesia. Isolated cases of fundamentalism must not discourage us, dialogue must continue and charity can and must open new paths for peace”.
“I would point out that while the world is involved in globalising solidarity, we cannot overlook all those much smaller ‘tsunami’ which happen every day all over the world: every month 150,000 people die of AIDS, more than 100,000 have been killed in the Sudanese region of Darfur 100mila, not to mention the many suffering from hunger and war. It is not enough to rally when there are great natural calamities, humanity must wake up to the many daily tragedies” the Holy See Observer said.
With regard to the question “where was God when the tsunami struck?”, Archbishop Tomasi said “we must have trust and put our lives in the hands of Divine Providence. Faith in God, creator and master of the universe does not prevent us from mourning the dead, but does it opens our hearts to realise that God in his goodness never fails to turn evil into an opportunity for good”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/1/2005 righe 48 parole 498)
