Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karachi (Agenzia Fides) – "The post-flood reconstruction has begun, but there are about 20,000 displaced Christian families being completely abandoned by the government. Discrimination continues. There are only a few Christian churches and Christian-based NGOs that work with them.” This is the complaint communicated to Fides by Fr. Mario Rodrigues, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan.
"Now that the floods are over - says the priest - the country is experiencing the difficult phase of reconstruction. There are great difficulties, because the funds available to the government are not sufficient (see Fides 29/10/2010). On the other hand, the emergency continues to be handled with distribution of distribute food and the fight against deteriorating health conditions marked by the presence of dangerous diseases like dengue and cholera." But, "at this stage, Christians are neglected and marginalized. They are the last on the list. They are not worthy of attention from the government or provincial authorities. Thus, the Church is now focusing on assisting Christian families who were otherwise destined to abject poverty, with threats to their survival," says Fr. Rodrigues.
"The Christian refugees are from all over the country, especially the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, and some are from the north, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly Northwest Frontier). The worst situation has been seen in Punjab, where government authorities are hostile to Christians and do not seem to have any intention of helping them."
Rebuilding a house costs about 200,000 rupees (about 20,000 dollars) and thus, Caritas Pakistan has appealed to donors around the world to collect sufficient contributions to rebuild homes for 20,000 Christian families. In addition to homes, there are also the lands to be reclaimed and to be freed from the mud, essential conditions for re-use in agriculture.
Government initiatives such as the “refugee card” are drowning in a practice of corruption and maladministration, causing discontent (see Fides 08/11/2010 and 12/10/2010). Fr. Mario, expressing the sentiments of thousands of Christian refugees, concludes: "The Pakistani government is only attentive to the needs of wealthy landowners and does not deal with the masses of poor and dispossessed who have lost everything. Among them, the Christians are the poorest of the poor." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2010)
