ASIA/SRI LANKA - The Claretians engaged in solidarity with flood victims

Saturday, 18 June 2016 natural catastrophe   solidarity   orders  

caritas

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - Religious Claretians in Sri Lanka are actively engaged in helping victims of the floods that hit the country last May, leaving massive damage to persons, houses, facilities. The Major Superior of the Claretians in Sri Lanka Fr. Rex Constantine in a letter sent to Fides wrote, "our missions have not been directly affected by the floods that have caused a national disaster for the country.
As Christians, we decided to respond with a sense of urgency and solidarity, engaging in small relief work according to our possibilities". The Claretians have formed the "Clarettian Disaster Recovery team" to plan and coordinate relief efforts and reconstruction. The team is planning strategies and actions to be of assistance to the affected people, in agreement with other institutions such as Caritas and other NGOs.
Many areas of Sri Lanka, hit by torrential rains since May 10, have suffered flooding and landslides, with serious damage to crops and housing. 22 districts have extensive damage while 92 people have died and 131 are still missing. About 320 thousand people have been evacuated and have had to leave their living areas, and now live as internally displaced persons. To date 67 thousand families are living in 497 camps for displaced persons in 9 districts. (PA) (18/06/2016)


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