Media Release
Bengaluru, Aug 17: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed its profound grief and sorrow at the unprecedented floods affecting Kerala, causing heavy loss of lives and damage to crops, houses, cattle and property. Over 60 people are reported to have lost their lives and thousands of people have been evacuated and moved to rehabilitation camps. Economic and collateral losses to people and their livelihood are huge though still to be effectively calculated. CBCI stated it shared the anguish of the people affected by this huge natural disaster and wished to express their closeness to them.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has also appreciated the quick and efficient relief work undertaken by the local and State Government authorities. CBCI has also appreciated the strong and immediate support being provided by the union government in the relief operations. The solidarity manifested and the help being provided cutting across political divides and religious or class belongingness is exemplary. “We salute the noble spirit of the people of Kerala as they valiantly battle the challenges faced by them in this critical and difficult time.”
The statement issued by Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, secretary general, CBCI said the Catholic Church condoles the death of the brothers and sisters who were caught unawares as nature’s fury took hold of large parts of Kerala. The CBCI has expressed solidarity with the injured and the suffering. The Catholic Church is already out in the field through her Wing of Mercy and Charity, Caritas India. The local Bishops, Clergy, Religious Sisters and lay volunteers are also involved in relief and succor operations. In different dioceses, church authorities have opened church schools and other institutions to the displaced people and are distributing food, clothes and other relief materials. Many parishes, schools and other church institutions have become the centers of aid and assistance to people in need.
While trying to help people in the affected areas without discrimination of faith or class, wherever it is possible to reach out, “we appeal to people of good will all across the country and elsewhere to come to the aid of our suffering brethren.” The Bishops are also concerned about the health situation in the affected areas. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has expressed its ardent desire to work with the government and all like-minded agencies to provide relief and help in all
possible ways to the suffering people.
When the fury and rampage of the floods and unbridled water flow goes away, it would be desirable to analyse the causes of the floods and take urgent steps to preserve our environment and prevent further ecological damage to the common home, Mother Earth, destruction often brought about by the human actions.
“We pray for all those affected and also for all who are actively or through contributions helping the people in dire distress. May the Almighty bless us with his abundant graces and mercies,” the statement further added.