Catholics across Ireland joined to aid the 20 million Pakistani flood victims through a nationwide Church collection. Pakistan saw its most devastating monsoon rainy season in decades, which caused flooding that brought as many as 2,000 deaths and affected another 20 million people. The area affected by the floods is about the size of England.
Trocaire, the official overseas development agency of the Church in Ireland, is working to provide emergency relief to the flood victims. Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert, chairman of the aid agency, urged Catholics to support this work by giving donations in the local parish collections.
“These floods have left unimaginable destruction and families are in a desperate struggle to survive,” the prelate said. He continued: “Up to 20 million people have had their lives ruined. Entire communities have been washed away, leaving millions homeless and hungry. People are being forced to drink dirty, polluted water and the fear is that children and adults will contract fatal waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, which is a leading cause of childhood death.”
The aid agency is providing food, clean water, water purification tablets, cooking utensils, sleeping mats, sanitary goods, and other items for thousands of Pakistanis. It is also strategizing to help in the long-term recovery, putting together initiatives to rebuild homes and agriculture.
DUBLIN (Zenit.org)