India’s Catholic Church appeals for contribution to Uttarakhand relief efforts
28 June, 2013 - The Catholic Church of India has appealed to its faithful and institutions
to contribute generously to the relief efforts of the nation, grappling with a humanitarian
disaster triggered by unprecedented floods in Uttarakhand state. Cardinal Oswald Gracias,
president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), made the appealed on
Thursday urging contributions for the victims of the Uttarakhand floods, which the
media has described as the “Himalayan Tsunami”. The cardinal, who is Archbishop of
Bombay, reminded the nation’s Catholics about the call of the Gospel which does not
allow us to be indifferent to the immense suffering the people in the affected areas
are undergoing. “We need to extend total solidarity and support to enable the people
of Uttarakhand to return back to normalcy,” he said. He noted that since the floods,
triggered by heavy monsoon rains, local dioceses and Caritas India, the social arm
of the Catholic Church of India, have been helping with the rescue efforts. Contributions
may be sent to Caritas India, at the CBCI Centre in New Delhi. (Source: CBCI)
Below
is the full text of Cardinal Oswald Gracias’ appeal:
28 June,2013
Your
Eminence/Grace/Excellency, Rev. Father/Sister/Brother, On behalf of the
Church in India, I wish to make an earnest appeal to you to support the victims of
the recent flood in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand saw over 60 hours of continuous
and heavy rains from June 14th to 17th, 2013. The cloudburst and ensuing landslides
has been described as a “Himalayan Tsunami”. Pictures on the television have been
frightening with many houses washed away and buildings in the path of the flood waters
collapsing like brittle clay-work. Our Defence Forces have played a magnificent role
in battling hostile weather to rescue people and bring them to safety. Over 100,000
stranded people have been brought to safety in the mammoth on-going multi-agency operation
and several hundreds still remain to be evacuated. The human toll has been immense,
with the count of the dead increasing every hour. Since the beginning of
this disaster, local diocesan rescue teams and Caritas India have been present, helping
with the rescue efforts. Besides the Government, numerous NGOs have been reaching
out to people in distress. Caritas India has been interacting and networking with
other NGOs in the relief effort. Based on the need-assessment, food, drinking water,
clothes, medicines and face-masks have been distributed. There is need for huge support
for the relief and rehabilitation work of the affected people. The call
of the Gospel does not allow us to be indifferent to the immense suffering the people
in the affected areas are undergoing. With this letter, I am making an appeal to all
our people and Institutions to join in the relief effort by contributing generously.
We need to extend total solidarity and support to enable the people of Uttarakhand
to return back to normalcy. Caritas India will coordinate all our efforts. I
am requesting that all Bishops, Major Superiors and Heads of Institutions make an
appeal to our people to contribute generously. Contributions may be sent to Caritas
India, CBCI Centre, 1 Ashok Place, Near Gole Dakhana, New Delhi 110001, either directly,
or through the local Diocese.
With kind regards and best wishes, Yours
fraternally in Christ,
Oswald Cardinal Gracias Archbishop
of Bombay & President – CBCI