Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - “We are still deeply shocked and traumatised by the tragedy. The death toll rises by the hour and loss of life and damage to structures is vast. It is feared that as many as 40,000 people have been killed and the same number injured. The country has never known such a catastrophe. We have expressed our sympathy and closeness to the families and the homeless assuring them of our help and prayers”. This was the comment made by Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, of Lahore, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, with regard to the situation since a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake struck Pakistani and Indian Kashmir, destroying whole villages and wrecking the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad.
“Yesterday, Sunday 9 October at all masses special prayers were said for the dead and the homeless. The Bishops’ Conference has urged Catholics to be generous in offering material and spiritual assistance. We have already collected 500,000 Pakistan Rupees which will go the Rescue Committee. We have suggested that Catholics and all men and women of goodwill offer a day’s swages to help the stricken people. Tomorrow 11 October I will lead special prayers for the victims” the Archbishop said:
Meanwhile local Catholic aid efforts are being co-ordinated by Caritas Pakistan. Archbishop Saldanha explains: “We are sending volunteers to assist the homeless and doctors to attend to the numerous injured people. Christian aid agencies are making every effort to help the affected people, mainly Muslims. A few Catholics were among those who lost their life but only a few because there are hardly any Christians in the most affected area. However Catholic schools, institutes and churches are said to have been damaged. Reports are still incomplete. We will know more in the next few days”.
In the meantime the death toll continues to rise. Government, UNICEF and other sources estimate 35-40,000 victims. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2005 righe 32 parole 347)