Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dacca (Agenzia Fides) - In the disaster caused by cyclone Sidr - forecasted as it approached the Bangladesh coast - Christians of different denominations worked together to prepare a machine of solidarity.
An ecumenical committee comprising representatives of Caritas Bangladesh (with the assistance of local religious congregations see Fides 16/11/2007), Christian Aid, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, Church of Banglandesh, Koinonia, Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh, launched a network of relief assistance.
The local Red Crescent office said the number of dead is between 5 and 10 thousand. At least six million were affected by the disaster and one quarter are homeless. At least 1,500 are reported injured and one thousand are missing. The local Red Cross organisation said at least 900,000 families have been affected. It is feared that corpses may poison the water and lead to disease. Many isolated parts of the country have yet to be reached by rescue workers. Aid is arriving from the United States, the European Union, United Nations, WFP nad UNICEF, and from Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday 18 November Pope Benedict XVI called for “every effort to be made to assist these suffering brothers and sisters”.
For some time Christian representatives on the sub continent have considered the need to have emergency aid programmes ready in case of natural disasters, ever more frequent. At a recent meeting in Calcutta, representatives of various Christian confessions confirmed the need to prepare Basic Church Communities to ensure swift assistance. Pintu William Gomes, of Caritas Bangladesh, said the local Caritas offices asks basic communities to share the available resources when a natural disaster strikes. Benedict Alo Rozario, head of Caritas Bangladesh, said humanitarian aid must be accompanied with adequate development policies, particularly for the pooresta nd most vulnerable communities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2007 righe 28 parole 289)
