Lahore, 18 October 2005 (tenth day)
Ten
days have passed since the massive earthquake. Rain and cold, even some snow,
have brought more misery and death to the affectees in the quake-hit areas.
People of Pakistan have responded with characteristic emotion and magnanimity
and contributed generously. Hundreds of trucks filled with all kinds of relief
goods have jammed the narrow road leading to the disaster region.
Let
me tell one or two real stories of how our Christians joined in the relief
effort. The story of Fr Miguel Angel
SDB is worth recounting. He is the Director of the Don Bosco Technical Workshop
in Lahore. Two days after the earthquake, he set off with a group of
technicians, armed with blowtorches, cutters and welding tools. They worked
closely with the army rescue team in helping to free the trapped people in
collapsed buildings around Muzaffarabad. It was hard work traveling to remote
mountain villages bringing aid and comfort to many desperate and suffering
people but it was a wonderful witness of Christian charity and service.
A
story of inter-faith cooperation unfolded in Sukheki, a town 80 km west of
Lahore, near the famed shrine of Mariamabad. A young man named Zafar George,
who runs a Christian school in Sukheki, joined up with Muslims in making a
collection for the quake victims. They collected Rs 300,000 ($ 5000) and
purchased a lot of much-needed rations and clothes, which they transported to
the northern areas and distributed them among those in acute need.
A
remarkable example of individual initiative and generosity is the story of Mr.
Bundu Khan, a Catholic from the Cathedral parish, Lahore, who operates an
ambulance service with his small van.
On hearing about the earthquake he set off the next day with his son and
spent three or four days rendering voluntary ambulance service to the deserving
patients, even transporting some cases to the hospital in Islamabad. A Muslim
in Lahore loaded the van with white cloth for making shrouds for burial of 300
corpses according to the Muslim tradition.
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Caritas
Lahore has organized six relief camps in Lahore city -to which many people have
generously come forward and donated all sorts of necessary items for the
suffering victims of Kashmir. These goods were deposited at the central army
camp in Lahore for onward transportation to the disaster areas. Caritas has also assigned its two doctors to
work with other medical teams up in the mountains, in harsh conditions. Caritas
is involved with other foreign Catholic relief agencies that have set up an
office in Islamabad.
Sacred
Heart School, Lahore, run by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, made a
collection of relief goods. Sr. Martin de Porres and Sr. Sophia, the Principal,
themselves loaded these goods in their school bus and transported them to the
affected area and personally distributed them among the poor affectees.
The
Focolare groups of volunteers have been visiting the injured persons admitted
in the various hospitals of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, offering moral support,
comfort and encouragement to the suffering people who feel very low and
depressed.
The
Catholic Youth Ministry of Lahore have organized an inter faith prayer service
for the victims of the earthquake on Nov 20th. They have prepared a
“street theatre” drama to highlight the plight of the suffering people. They
have invited people of other faiths to this program, like Muslim and Sikh
youth.
Responding
to the call of the Bishop, many parishes have made collections for the
earthquake victims. For example, Fr Philip John of St. Francis Xavier parish,
Gujranwala, 65 km north of Lahore, collected a truckload of stuff and also
deposited Rs. 8500 in cash in the Relief Fund.
Many
seriously injured people have been brought to Lahore and admitted in three or
four hospitals, like Services, General, Jinnah and Military Hospital. Dr.
Mariam Richards, who is attached to Jinnah Hospital, is involved in caring for
these injured people. The Focolare group intend to visit these ailing people.
The latest estimate
is 53000 dead, (In India, 1400) 60,000 injured and 3 million homeless in acute
need. 20% to 25 % affected areas are still inaccessible and not getting aid.
Winter is setting in – the temperature is a few degrees above freezing. At
present the urgent need is for shelter: tents and blankets. Once again I
urgently appeal for monetary aid for the victims. A tent costs around $ 75 and
blanket $25.
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Donations may be sent by
cheque or electronic transfer on the following account no:
Standard Chartered Bank, The
Mall, Lahore, Account no. 05 4421787-79
I would like to take this
opportunity to thanks our many friends and colleagues abroad for their messages
of concern and sympathy and promise of prayers. They have greatly encouraged us
in this the greatest national disaster in our history.
May God bless you for your
generous assistance!
† Lawrence J. Saldanha
Archbishop of Lahore
President, Pakistan Catholic
Bishops Conference
Phone: 0092-42-6366137
Fax: 0092-42-6368336
E-Mail: fr_larry@hotmail.com