Card. Gracias appeals for
solidarity, generosity for victims of Kerala floods
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| All what remains of the home of Ajith Prasad in the rains and floods in Kerala, India.- AFP |
The relentless rains, floods and landslides since August 8
have claimed the lives of at least 190 people in southern India's Kerala state,
and the figure is expected to rise as rains continue. Over 314,000 people have
been moved to nearly 2,100 relief camps across the state.
By Robin Gomes
The Catholic Church of India is calling on all its faithful
to show solidarity and contribute to the relief operations of the victims of
the unprecedented floods caused by torrential rains in the southern state of
Kerala.
Cardinal Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the president
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), issued an appeal to all to
contribute to a special fund created for this purpose.
“On behalf of the Catholic Church in India, I am making this
fervent appeal to you, my brothers Bishop and to all in Church leadership, to
come together in solidarity and encourage the community of faithful,
institutions and people of goodwill to contribute generously
to this humanitarian call and express our solidarity at this
crucial moment,” Cardinal Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay wrote in an appeal
posted on the CBCI website.
194 dead, over 314,000 in relief camps
The Indian government has deployed thousands of soldiers and
dozens of helicopters to rescue people marooned by the worst floods since 1924
in Kerala. The onslaught of rains, floods and landslides has claimed the
lives of 194 people since August 8, and the figure could rise as rains
continue. State chief minister, Pinnrayi Vijayan put the death toll from floods
and landslides since the start of the rainy season in June at 324. Over
314,000 people have been moved to nearly 2,100 relief camps across the state.
The weather office warned of more heavy
"red" category rains in 11 districts on Saturday as tens of
thousands of people were still stranded on the rooftops without food,
drinking water and electricity. Rescue workers have yet to reach many
flooded areas, some too narrow for boats to navigate.
Caritas India in action
“Caritas India, the Catholic Church’s social arm for
humanitarian aid,” Cardinal Gracias wrote, “has already placed an 8-member team
in different parts of Kerala to assess the needs of the local communities and
help the Social Development Diocesan Partners of Kerala in conducting the
relief operations.” He said Caritas is supporting 24 affected
dioceses with relief kits, food, drinking water, clothes, utensils and
other requirements.
The president of India’s Catholic bishops said it is most
urgent to reach out to those who are stranded and isolated in
the most remote and unreached villages. He said there also the huge need
to rebuild the lives of the people and communities with rehabilitation
and restoration of livelihoods in the aftermath of the floods.
[The funds mobilized to this cause from the dioceses and
institutions may please be sent to Account Title CARITAS INDIA, SB Account
number: 0153053000007238, Bank name: The South Indian Bank Ltd, IFSC Code:
SIBL0000153, 22 REGAL BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, NEW DELHI – 110001]
Bombay Archdiocese
In a separate appeal, the Cardinal Gracias has called on all
the faithful, churches, convents and other institutions of his Bombay
Archdiocese to be “generous” and “ join in the relief efforts”.
“The Archdiocese of Bombay cannot stay silent while our
brothers and sisters are going through harrowing times in Kerala,” the
cardinal wrote in an appeal posted on August 18 on the archdiocesan
website.
He particularly urged for prayers for the
victims, their families and the rescue teams.
[Donations and Cheques are to drawn in favour of Centre for Social Action and
sent to: Centre for Social Action, Eucharistic Congress Building - Ground
floor, 5 Convent Street, Colaba, Mumbai 400 001. Donors are requested to
give their PAN number and contact details. You may also donate online
at www.csamumbai.in (All donations made to this cause are eligible for income
tax exemption under section 80G).]
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