ASIA/THAILAND - The impact of the third wave of Covid-19 on pastoral care; the missionaries close to the Burmese refugees

Friday, 7 May 2021 displaced persons   coronavirus   pandemic  

Chiang Mai (Agenzia Fides) - "The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 here in Thailand is extremely slow, therefore it is difficult to predict when the situation will improve", writes to Agenzia Fides Fr. Ferdinando Pistore, a fidei donum priest working in Chiang Mai. "After Easter there was a third wave and we had to suspend masses with the participation of the faithful and all parish activities. "Due to the lack of direct daily contacts - continues the missionary, the thing that most upsets us missionaries is not being able to personally meet the groups of Burmese refugees who have been temporarily welcomed in the south of the province of Lamphun, whose territory corresponds to the territory of the parish of St. Francis where we serve. Social workers, in addition to asking Buddhist monks for help, ask for our collaboration. For us, the situation of the Burmese is particularly touching because most of the Catholics who attend our parish are Burmese immigrants, who experience concern and sometimes anguish about the situation of their families and friends at home. Unfortunately - adds Fr. Ferdinando - despite the sensitivity of the social workers and the general collaboration of Catholics and Buddhists, the group of irregular refugees was expected to be repatriated". The missionary concludes by stating that the situation, especially in Bangkok, seems serious, with about two thousand infections every day. "The worrying fact is that infections have spread to the slum. One of the measures in place for the month is to fine anyone who leaves the house without a mask with a fine of up to 20,000 baht, a very high figure for average workers which corresponds to almost two months of the minimum wage. The first offense is punished with a fine of 6,000 baht. The schools were already closed for the summer holidays and for the moment the closure has been extended until 1 June. (FP/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 7/5/2021)


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