India’s Catholic Church
expresses condolence for victims of dust storm
People next to their destroyed homes in Bharatpur, India, following a severe dust storm.- AFP |
A particularly severe dust storm on Thursday ravaged parts
of the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, causing deaths, injury
and damage or loss to property.
The Catholic Church of India has expressed its grief at the
loss of life and and property, and injury caused by a
particularly severe dust storm on Thursday in parts of the
northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“The Catholic Church condoles the death of our brothers and
sisters who were caught unaware as nature’s fury took hold of large parts of
North India,” said press release on Saturday signed by Bishop Theodore
Mascarenhas, the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of India (CBCI), and Fr. Paul Moonjely, the
Executive Director of Caritas India, the social arm of the Catholic
Church in India.
“We express our solidarity with the injured and the
suffering,” they wrote.
The Home Ministry said the storm also caused eight deaths in
southern Telangana state and another eight deaths in northern Uttarakhand
and Punjab states.
The CBCI and Caritas said they are already out in the field
trying to help needy people, and offered to join hands with the efforts
of the government and other agencies in relief operations.
The Catholic Church made it an occasion to invite all to
reflect on the issue of climate change, which is manifesting itself
in natural disasters, as pointed out by Pope Francis in
his encyclical “Laudato Si”.
Please find below the full text of the press release:
CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF INDIA (CBCI)
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its
profound grief and sorrow at the terrible and unimaginable havoc wrecked by the
severe dust storm that has ravaged parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is
reported that more than 150 people have lost their lives and hundreds others
are injured and thousands left without shelter. The damage has been the worst
seen in 20 years, according to officials with India's Meteorological
department. They have also issued warnings that more bad weather is to come, with
severe thunderstorms expected in several places in northern India over the next
few days.
The Catholic Church condoles the death of our brothers and
sisters who were caught unaware as nature’s fury took hold of large parts of
North India. We express our solidarity with the injured and the suffering.
The Catholic Church is already out in the field through her
Wing of Mercy and Charity, Caritas India. While trying to help people without
discrimination of faith, or class, wherever it is possible for us to reach out,
Caritas India, for more precise operations, is specially concentrating on the
districts of Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Jayour in Rajasthan. We appreciate
the efforts being put in by the Government and its agencies to provide
immediate help and relief to the affected and extend our hand of partnership to
the Government. Even as people are trying to build up their lives, we are
concerned about the health situation in the areas affected. The Catholic
Bishops’ Conference expresses its ardent desire to work with the Government and
all like-minded agencies to provide relief and help in all possible ways to the
suffering people.
This is also an occasion for all of us to think and reflect
seriously on the issue of climate change, as indicated by Pope Francis in his
encyclical Laudato Si and which is more and more manifesting itself
through natural Disasters. According to experts, while dust storms are quite
common in North India, the extraordinary dust and thunderstorms are connected
to the rapid rate of desertification in several Indian states. The environment
ministry says a quarter of the country's land is undergoing desertification -
while independent experts put the figure much higher. Increasing
desertification would mean more intense and damaging dust storms.
Environmentalists have predicted that droughts will become more severe in this
part of South Asia with climatic changes.
The Catholic Church invites men and women of good will
everywhere to join it and others in providing succour and assistance wherever
needed. If you wish to join us you may get in touch with Caritas India at
director@caritasindia.org or our person in the field Mr. Anjan Bag at
9831065890.
We pray for all those affected and also for all who are
actively or through contributions helping the people in dire distress. May the
Almighty bless us with his abundant graces and mercies.
Jai hind!
Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX
Secretary General,
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India
Fr. Paul Moonjely
Executive Director
Caritas India
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