Pope Francis reaches out to
Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi
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| Flooded homes in Mozambique |
A monetary contribution has been sent on behalf of Pope
Francis to the people of southeast Africa suffering the devastating effects of
Cyclone Idai.
By Robin Gomes
The Pope’s closeness and solidarity for the people of Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Malawi, devastated by Cyclone Idai, has taken a concrete form.
The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human
Development announced on Friday that the Pontiff has decided to send an initial
contribution of €150 thousand to the 3 countries to help in
the first phase of the emergency.
The Pope's initiative came not long after his appeal during
his General Audience on Wednesday, in which he urged for prayers and support
for the victims of the disaster.
The intense tropical cyclone made landfall on 15 March near
Beira, Mozambique, and moved inland causing widespread damage and severe
flooding in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
Described by the United Nations as “one of the worst weather-related
disasters ever to hit the southern hemisphere,” Idai has killed 242 people in
Mozambique, 259 in Zimbabwe and 56 in Malawi, and numbers are expected to
rise. Nearly two million people have been affected.
The Vatican Dicastery said the Pope’s contribution to the
relief efforts is “intended to be an immediate expression of the Holy Father's
feeling of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement towards the people
and territories affected.”
The sum, to be distributed equally among the countries
through their respective Apostolic nunciatures, will benefit areas most
affected by the disaster and will be used in relief works and assistance to
people and territories.
This is part of the overall fund that is being raised
throughout the Catholic Church involving various bishops’ conferences and
numerous charitable organizations.
The UN’s World Food Programme estimates 1.7 million people
in Mozambique will eventually need help as a result of the disaster.
With waters receding and water and sanitation systems
largely destroyed, the spectre of waterborne diseases looms large on the
horizon.
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