Caritas brings aid to flood victims in Assam and Bihar

The Catholic charity set aside about US$ 780,000. In Bihar, they handed out aid worth around US$ 312,000. Caritas "has done a unique job, helping people of every faith.” Lucknow bishop offers his condolences after a train crash kills 23 in Uttar Pradesh.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Caritas India is at the forefront "in bringing relief to the suffering people of Assam and the North East,” said Fr Frederick D'Souza, executive director of Caritas India.

Speaking to AsiaNews about recent floods in much of South Asia, he said that the Catholic Church’s main charity organisation has allocated 50 million rupees (US$ 780,000) and is now handing out food, medicine and tents. Volunteers are also setting up medical camps. “We are reaching the unreached areas in three districts,” he said.

For weeks, India has been pounded by heavy rain, causing floods. The most affected regions are in the North East, in particular the states of Bihar and Assam.

In Bihar, Caritas has already provided aid worth 20 million rupees (US$ 310,000), but “We have a target of reaching altogether 50 million Indian Rupees and cover more people as the floods in Bihar is devastating,” Fr D’Souza said.

The executive director notes that Caritas "has done a unique job, helping people of every faith. The goal is to meet the humanitarian needs of everyone."

The diocese of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is also helping flood victims. The local bishop, Mgr Gerald Mathias, said that the diocesan administration "is fully involved in helping flood victims.”

The prelate also offered his condolences to the relatives of the victims of Saturday’s railway accident in Muzaffarnagar (about 130 km from Delhi), in which 23 people were killed.

"May the Lord grant eternal rest to the dead and speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.

• india
• assam
• bihar
• uttar pradesh
• floods
• catholic church
• caritas
• rains
• railway accident