ASIA/PAKISTAN - Urban floods in Karachi: aid from the Catholic Church

Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "The volunteers of Caritas of Karachi and of the parishes of Karachi have mobilized after the long period of monsoon rains in Karachi in the month of July. The record of heavy rainfall in Karachi, up to 233 mm, has flooded most of the city. In a heavily urbanized area, it is a disaster for the people.
The administration failed to clean the sewage drains, which made the situation worse. Citizens endure deplorable conditions": this is what Mansha Noor, executive secretary of Caritas in Karachi, told Fides, focusing on the difficult situation in the metropolis of southern Pakistan following a long period of monsoon rains.
Mansha Noor reports: "This month, the Catholic community of Karachi has promoted and launched relief operations, in response to the emergency caused by heavy rains and urban floods. The Archdiocese of Karachi is involved in supporting and helping the most affected families in various surrounding areas and villages. Thanks to the guidance of Msgr. Benny Mario Travas, Archbishop of Karachi, we are actively following the affected people through a special telephone line and also through a Whats'App chat dedicated to the emergency".
In order to cope with the food emergency, the Emergency Response Team of Caritas Karachi, since July 5 has distributed bags of cooked rice, drinking water and 35 kg food baskets containing flour, rice, sugar, tea, lentils, spices, milk and cooking oil. Mansha Noor informs: "In addition to providing food to more than 500 families, we have also distributed hygiene kits, nutrition kits and 300 camp tents to families left homeless in the areas of Sadiq Nagar, Kausar Niazi, Younas Goth, Holy Mary Goth, Nasrat Nagar and Gujjar Nullah. These neighborhoods fall within the territories of the three Catholic parishes of Saint Michael, Saint Philip and Saint Jude, in the Archdiocese of Karachi".
Mansha Noor continues: "This aid responds to the most immediate and urgent needs. These are the needs identified by our assessment team, during the initial assessment visit, conducted in urban areas of Karachi severely affected by the floods. The help offered has brought great comfort to the affected Christian and Muslim families. Caritas Pakistan has provided us with financial support to continue our mission to help the poor and needy in this difficult time".
Heavy rains in Karachi and other cities in Sindh province, southern Pakistan, which began on July 4, have generated severe urban flooding. The Sindh Province Meteorological Department, after forecasting further rain from July 26-28, has forecast moderate rainfall in Karachi and various parts of Sindh Province from July 29, 2022 onwards as well. According to experts, a month of rainfall could create pressure in the dam on the Hub River and therefore severe and sudden floods in the areas of the districts of Dadu, Jamshoro, Kambhar and Shahdadkot. (AG/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 29/7/2022)

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