ASIA/PAKISTAN - Archbishop Arshad: "All united to give relief to the poor, victims of the floods"

Friday, 2 September 2022 natural disasters   solidarity   humanitarian aid  

Diocese Hyderabad

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - "We call on the entire nation to offer all its solidarity to the people affected by the floods and help them recover from the disaster as quickly as possible. We must make every effort, in unity, to ensure that people do not continue to suffer the shocking impact of these floods in terms of hunger, poverty or lack of livelihoods." This is the message sent to Agenzia Fides by Archbishop Joseph Arshad, Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, following the severe floods that affected the country. Heavy rains continue in Pakistan. More than 60% of the usual monsoon rains have fallen in just three weeks since the start of the season. The rainfall has caused devastating floods and landslides across the country, especially affecting Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh provinces.
"The loss of life, the suffering, the destruction of homes, bridges, roads, crops and livelihoods is enormous and serious. Citizens, especially farmers and the poorest, urgently need humanitarian assistance. Thousands of people, especially the most vulnerable, are facing internal displacement and need help to survive", explains the Archbishop with concern.
"In this situation of great emergency, as the Catholic Church in Pakistan we express our closeness and prayer for the deceased and their families, especially for those who have lost everything; May the Lord sustain the work of those who bring relief to those in need. We also want to launch an urgent appeal to all so that we can remain united and work together, government and civil society, religious communities of all faiths, people and entities of diverse inspiration, to support and help those who suffer from this calamity. It is the moment of unity, of bearing fruit and going out to meet others in need and despair in a spirit of true charity. Christians in Pakistan are ready to give their contribution in a spirit of love and gratuity", concludes Msgr. Arshad.
In recent days, the leaders of the Christian, Catholic and Protestant Churches in Pakistan have joined their voices to ask for help for the victims, nationally and internationally, after the government declared a state of emergency. At the Angelus on Sunday, August 28, in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis invited the international community to support Pakistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 2/9/2022)


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