Caritas Asia coordinator discusses crises in Indonesia and Pakistan

Thousands of villagers have returned to their homes on the slopes of Indonesia's deadly volcano as it has become less active in recent days. But 270,000 refugees are still in emergency camps as their houses were destroyed or they lack clean water and food.

The mountain's activity level has now decreased, although an alert remains in place.

“The volcanoes kept erupting,” says Fr Bonnie Mendes, Regional Coordinator of Caritas Asia. “And it’s not one, it’s a whole series of volcanoes. They are becoming very active in different places, which a new phenomenon.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan is still struggling to house some two million people left homeless by the monsoons rains that flooded the country this summer.

Caritas has been working for the past three months to assist Pakistan’s flood victims with shelter, livelihood and health. They help not only Christians, but Muslims and Hindus as well.

“It’s a very good opportunity for interfaith dialogue and interfaith growth,” Fr Mendes told Vatican Radio.

Listen to Fr Bonnie Mendes’ full interview with Lydia O’Kane: