Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Wednesday, 14 August 2019
India's Kerala Catholic Church responds to flood emergency

By Robin Gomes/ vaticannews.va :

Fr. George Vettikattil, who heads the Kerala Social Service Forum that coordinates the Kerala Social Service Societies of the 32 dioceses of southern India’s Kerala state, says the Church has been carrying out relief and rescue operations following the floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains.

As floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains continue to submerge vast areas of states in southern and western India, Church agencies are joining in rescue and relief efforts.

At least 200 people have died in floods and landslides following incessant rains that have particularly hit Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat states. Over 1.2 million have been affected.

Meanwhile, heavy downpours lashed Uttarakhand and Jammu leaving nine people dead in landslides. Also, five people were killed in West Bengal and Odisha states in rain-related incidents on Monday.

Kerala, worst hit
Kerala, where unprecedented rain and floods killed 480 people last August, is also the worst-hit this year.

Kerala’s death toll stood at 85 on Monday, while in Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra, 116 people have lost their lives.

About 250,000 people have been displaced in Kerala and are living in 1,600 relief camps that include church-run schools, hostels and even churches.

Church opens its doors to all
Catholic Church agencies are accommodating about 45,000 people in 300 church institutions being used as relief camps, he said.

“We have opened all our institutions to accommodate needy people in temporary and safe accommodation,” said Father George Vettikattil, who is secretary and director of the Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF) that coordinates the charity efforts of all the 32 Catholic dioceses in the state through the local Social Service Societies.

Speaking on the phone to Vatican News, he explained about the situation in his state, saying at least 10 of the state’s 14 districts are hit by the deluge. There have been some 100 landslides and many are missing.