Japan grapples with rescue and relief effort

A major international rescue effort to help Japan locate survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the country is underway with up to 100 countries offering assistance. As Japan continues to grapple with the evolving rescue and humanitarian situation, Lydia O’Kane spoke to Fr Bonnie Mendes, Regional Co-ordinator for Caritas Asia about how the church is responding to the disaster.

He says “They (Caritas Japan) is going to help the government as much as possible. The different dioceses that have been affected in the prefectures they are very active there and at the same time the church itself has lost one of its missionaries from Canada”.

Fr Bonnie adds that Caritas is acting indirectly rather than directly at this stage.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Fr Bonnie Mendes here