After heavy lashing by monsoon rains since August 8, southern India’s Kerala state is limping back to normalcy with the rains subsiding. However, the task of recovery and rehabilitation remains enormous and arduous. Among the numerous organizations, agencies and groups that are currently in engaged in rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations is Caritas India, the social service and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).
As reported by Vatican news, Fr. Paul Moongely, the executive director of Caritas India remarked that “The current urgent need of the people is food. In this regard aid material and other provisions are pouring in, in response to Caritas appeal. As the waters are receding, every aspect of sanitation needs to be taken care of with sanitation materials, sanitation equipment and dysentery equipment. Caritas India has a very good network in the state of Kerala, with 32 diocesan social work societies and hundreds of religious communities and congregations. Caritas India coordinates this huge response through the diocesan social work societies and the religious communities.”
According to a Caritas communique, the Church plans to reach out to 20,000 flood-affected families under the following plan of action: Food Support: Immediate food support to 20,000 most deserving tribal households in Wayanad, Pathanamthitha, Thrissur and Ernakulam. Each food kit for a household of 5 members includes 10 kg rice, 2 kg daal, 1 kg salt, 1 kg oil, 1 kg soya bean and 4 packets of glucose biscuits. Cash for Work” scheme to clean the debris: Immediate “Cash for Work” scheme intends to to support 10,000 households from tribal and low earning communities. Water, sanitation and sanitation (WaSH) initiative: WaSH kits will be supplied to 10,000 tribal women and girls. Shelter support: In the long term, a special house plan will be made based on the locally available materials. The estimated cost each shelter is Rs. 80,000 – 90,000 .
Source: en.vaticannews.va
