Caritas Pakistan ready to help flood victims

(Aug.05,2010) Caritas Pakistan says it has finalized plans to provide much-needed relief to 2,500 families hard hit by one of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history. “Our assessment teams have submitted their reports. We shall start providing food items, tents and medical aid next week,” said Anila Jacolin Gill, national executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan, in a press statement on Wednesday. “There is a desperate need to alleviate the considerable suffering without any distinction of caste, creed or ethnic origin,” said Bishop Victor Gnanapragasam of Quetta apostolic vicariate.
According to Caritas, the Catholic Church’s social service agency, badly affected areas include Islamabad-Rawalpindi and Multan dioceses, as well Quetta vicariate. Oblate Father Rukmono from Sibi in Quetta has appealed for help. “Although there is no Christian family in my village, we have to help all those affected to the best of our ability” he said. More rain and damaged roads are hampering rescue efforts in the district, he added.
Nowshehra is the worst flood-hit district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where many people are encamped along the main highway. Similarly, several districts in southern Punjab province where Multan diocese is situated are in need of urgent relief and medicines. Caritas Multan staff there have reported an outbreak of waterborne disease. The organization blames the floods on global warming.