ASIA/INDONESIA - Catholic religious congregations to help the population affected by the earthquake and tsunami

Cadis

Manado (Agenzia Fides) - "Father Andi Suparman, Camillian of Maumere, will travel to Manado this week to meet with the humanitarian mission's contact person in the diocese of Manado and discuss how to proceed and how to start the relief efforts promoted by the Camillians": says to Agenzia Fides Fr. Aris Miranda, Director of the "Camillian Disaster Service International" (Cadis), while the death toll due to the earthquake and tsunami that last week devastated Palu on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi continues (see Fides 29/9/2018) ). The Civil Protection has announced that, while the death toll continues to increase, so far 1,407 deaths have been rgistered.
"The diocese of Manado is at the head of the humanitarian mission organized by the various bodies and associations of the Catholic Church", notes Fr. Aris. "The congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) is present in the area affected by the earthquake and tsunami while the Verbite Fathers (Society of the Divine Word) have no presence in the area but are helping through the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Makassar", reports the Camillian.
The Indonesian army that sent soldiers to Palu to monitor infrastructure, fuel depots, banks, the local airport and to prevent acts of looting also contributes to the relief operations.
This morning, October 3, there was fear due to the eruption of the Soputan volcano in the province of North Sulawesi, 900 kilometers from Palu. According to local sources, the eruption formed a column of smoke and ash that reached a height of about 6,000 meters, but there were no victims. (AM/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 3/10/2018)