Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - The local Catholic community in Jakarta has jumped into action to provide prompt relief aid to thousands of people affected by floods: local Church sources told Fides.
East Jakarta is submerged, under 4 metres of water in some districts, after water overflowed from 13 different rivers and swept across the city. Traffic in Jakarta - with a population of 10 million - is almost at standstill and difficult evacuation of affected areas continues with boats and all sorts of other makeshift means. At least 30 people are reported dead and over 350,000 people homeless, economic activities have been seriously damaged and some 670,000 families are without electricity.
Catholic assistance is organised in parishes, although 40 out of the 60 parish centres have been flooded. Caritas Indonesia is also intervening and has appealed for help to Caritas Internationalis. Relief aid should be guaranteed through thanks to various Caritas offices of other nations permanently present in Indonesia such as Caritas Ireland, Germany, United States, always ready to meet needs in the case of natural disasters, tsunamis, earthquakes etc.
Catholic volunteers are helping to evacuate people from the effected areas, especially sick and elderly people, and also to distribute food supplies and basic medicines to people assembled in shelters organised by the government and Islamic and Christian organisations. “Action of solidarity is totally inter-religious”, the source told Fides.
The city was not ready for a disaster of this size which struck after two weeks of incessant rain. “People in the capital feel disorientated and powerless in the face of the catastrophe, clearly another effect of climate change” the sources told Fides. “If humanity is to survive it is urgent to revise national and international environment policies”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/2/2007 righe 27 parole 272)
