ASIA/PAKISTAN - Catholics are giving “all they have” to flood victims

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - “We are doing our best. Caritas and the Pontifical Mission Societies have been active and there is a great sense of solidarity. The Catholic faithful are giving all they have," Fides was told by Fr. Mario Rodrigues, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Pakistan. "The flooding that hit the country has been an unprecedented event: it is estimated that the number of victims will exceed that of disasters like the tsunami of 2004 or the earthquake in Haiti. There is an urgent need for humanitarian aid," the priest told Fides, noting that only about 40% of the $460 million needed for humanitarian assistance has been raised.
There are over 20 million victims, displaced and homeless included, while the number of dead has reached 2,000. The President of Pakistan, Ali Zardari, today said that the consequences of the disaster will be felt around the country, socially and economically, for at least six months. He thus also launched an appeal for national unity to deal with the tragedy.
And after the emergency aid, "we will have to work on long-term reconstruction, to once again ensure the economic and social stability of thousands of families, especially farmers and ranchers," Fr. Mario added.
The mobilization of the small minority of Catholics in Pakistan - just over 1% of the population - is vast: in the spirit of fraternal charity, Catholics are holding nothing back. They are helping in the rescue effort and they are giving to their neighbor without reservations. The Pontifical Mission Societies have established camps in different parishes. “We are conducting a door-to-door collection for refugees. People have responded with tremendous generosity, giving food, money, everything they have for those affected by the disaster, most of whom are Muslims. We have filled five trucks with aid materials that, driven by Christian volunteers, visit the affected areas to distribute emergency aid," the Director of the PMS told Fides. "We ask for material aid, but also for the prayers of the faithful in the world," said the priest. Several offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies worldwide have already organized special collections of aid and funds for the victims. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/18/2010)