Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Freiburg (Agenzia Fides) – After the April 14 earthquake that caused hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injured or missing in western China, the network Caritas is providing immediate relief. Jinde Charities, the Chinese Catholic charitable organization, a partner of Caritas Germany, is preparing to send a group of employees into the disaster area to assess damage and coordinate aid on site. "The greatest damage was caused in a very remote mountain province. Therefore, relief will not be easy," said Frank Falkenburg, head of the China section of Caritas International, the office of Germany's Caritas that coordinates international aid. Furthermore, the region affected by the earthquake is in an autonomous Tibetan province, where civilian employees of organizations have limited access. Caritas International is in constant contact with employees at Jinde Charities on the site. "It's a great help," says Falkenburg, "that since the 2008 earthquake in the neighboring Sichuan province, we have been present in the area working very closely with our partner in China." For immediate aid donations, Caritas International has opened a bank account, launching an appeal for the earthquake victims in China. (MS) (Agenzia Fides 15/04/2010)
