ASIA/PAKISTAN – Flood disaster: bishops ask for help
ASIA/PAKISTAN – Flood disaster: bishops ask for help
Diocese of Hyderabad
Karachi (Agenzia Fides). – “Given how severe the flood disaster has been, the flood victims urgently require our assistance.” To help those affected by the floods and others in dire need, we ask for donations from people of goodwill. Humanitarian aid is essential for the affected families, in particular tents and kits for shelter, food hygiene and sanitary products, non-perishable food, clothing, and food. Benny Travas is the Archbishop and Capital of Sindh (southern Pakistan) after the country declared an emergency following severe monsoon rains that caused flooding in the provinces Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab. Pakistan saw a total rainfall of 375.4mm, nearly three times the national average over 30 years.
Archbishop Travas also directs Caritas Pakistan. He also stated that Caritas Pakistan receives many requests, including from parishes, congregations and civil protection committees as well as district governments. The Caritas office staff at the Diocese Karachi have already begun to review the requests and to provide assistance. I urgently appeal to support and invite people with good will to donate money or materials.
90% of the area affected by the floods in the southern province Sindh in the Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad has been inundated. Bishop Samson Shukardin, of Hyderabad, invites politicians and church officials to come forward to help the thousands affected in his diocese. Fides has spoken to the bishop after he visited some of those affected areas in his diocese. I have seen school buildings, parish houses, and churches flooded and destroyed. Many people are homeless and starving and many families grieve the loss of their loved ones.”
Bishop Shukardin expressed regret at the devastating floods and said: “This is indeed an awful time for the people in Pakistan. The country has been in a very difficult position since July 2022 because of heavy rains and floods. We appeal for non-perishable food items and water. We also need clothes, bedding and mosquito nets as well as tents, toiletries, and hygiene kits for the homeless and displaced.
According to the bishop, “Many houses have been flooded.” “The floods have caused many houses to flood,” reports the bishop.
After the death toll surpassed 1,000, the Pakistani government declared a state of emergency. Around 1,400 people were also injured. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 33 million Pakistanis were affected by the disaster. More than 218,000 homes were damaged and 218,000 were destroyed. NDMA reported that 116 of 160 counties were affected, and 66 have been declared a state disaster.
Many people are now living in poverty because 793,000 animals died. Around 2 million hectares were lost to the destruction of orchards and fields. Over 3,000kms and 145 broken bridges have prevented people reaching safe areas and hindered access to markets and hospitals.
According to the Pakistan Ministry of Education (Pakistan Ministry of Education), at least 17,566 schools have been damaged or destroyed. Because of flooding, the operation of the railway network in Pakistan has been temporarily suspended. According to the railway company, there are 10 billion Pakistani rupees in damages. (AG/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 29/8/2022)
Diocese of Hyderabad
Diocese of Hyderabad
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Source: fides.org
