by Weena Kowitwanji

Most projects planned for survivors in the diocese of Surat Thani, one of the most affected by the December 26 tidal wave, have been completed, including a professional training centre which gives hope to young people.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – In order to renew hope amongst tsunami survivors it is necessary to respect others irrespective of culture, religion or race and focus on human dignity, which is the basis of solidarity and peace. Only this way, can rebuilding be lasting, said Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, archbishop of the diocese of Surat Thani and head of a local Catholic foundation, which has led local post-tsunami rebuilding projects.

Two years since the devastating tsunami that struck the country, Thailand’s Catholic Church can say ‘job done’ in the case of a good number of projects. This was made possible only with the “cooperation at all levels, which allowed those who worked together to do their job with divine love and compassion,” the bishop explained.

But the Church’s aid has not only focused on material issues. “The most important thing for us was and is sharing the love and compassion of Christ through dialogue and cultural and religious respect,” he added

Its aid came in the form of financial help for the elderly and the disabled, assistance to fishermen to get back to normal activity by providing them with new boats and fishing gear as well as repairing damaged boats, psychological and social support to families affected by the tsunami, health care provided by a mobile clinic set up by the St. Louise Hospital and Camillian Hospital, and assistance in the fields of education and housing.

“All this was done thanks to international and local donors,” the bishop said. “The only project that needs to be completed, with the aid of Caritas Internationalis, is the Social Pastoral Centre in Takuapa. Thanks to contributions from a diocese in Umbria (Italy), a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Grace will be erected.”

For Fr Suwat Luengsa-ard, the centre’s director, there are many problems, above all the need to conduct pastoral work that understands the plurality of cultural, racial and religious identities.”

“We face some preconceived ideas in the area,” he said, “like that of giving aid in exchange for conversion. Even though we explain to people several time that is not our way, locals point to other groups who act that way and so our explanations are in vain.”
Village chief Nid Pramongkit agrees and supports the Catholic action. “I personally guaranteed to residents that the Catholics’ help had not ulterior motive and urged them to use it but also to help them [the Catholics] in their work.”

The Catholic foundation can also be proud of another project, the St. Agnes Professional Training Centre, which was developed in cooperation with the diocese of Meath, in Ireland, in order to give new hope to young survivors.

“There were so many victims in the area. We thought of providing professional training courses that would allow survivors to rebuild their lives. The courses are open to all without any preference,” said Stigmatine Fr Philip Pornchai Techapitaktham, who runs St. Agnes,

Mgr Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio, and Mgr Michael Smith, archbishop of Meath, inaugurated the centre, which is already operational.

The diocese of Surat Thani covers 14 southern Thai provinces, including Stun, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, with a population of almost 9 million. Catholics numbers only 7,400.

The December 26, 2004, tsunami affected most of the Indian Ocean coastline. Its final death toll stands at about 226,000 people but tens of thousands are still listed as missing whilst the number of displaced people ranges from three to five million.

• thailand
• tsunami
• surat
• thani
• reconstruction
• survivors