PIME campaign raises over 1.9 million euros for post-tsunami reconstruction
Milan (AsiaNews) The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) is pledged to transparency, respect for local needs and commitment to people. And faithful to these principles it is still raising funds and receiving requests for help from Protestants and Hindus as well as local authorities in tsunami-stricken parts of India and south-east Asia.
Although many projects have been completed, others are just getting underway thanks to donors' generosity. In his presentation, Fr Davide Sciocco, PIME Missionary Centre director in Milan and PIME's tsunami campaign coordinator, reported that total donations stood at 1,914,500 euros (US$ 2.4 million) to date. "So far, 1,653,000 euros were allocated, which leaves 261,500 unspent," he said.
Father Sciocco told his audience that the first 110,000 euros (US$ 140,000) were allocated for emergency aid in India (Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Andaman Islands), Thailand and Myanmar.
Money then went to purchase boats and fishing equipment in Tamil Nadu, provide aid for schools and hostels on the Andaman Islands, help pupils attending schools run by Stigmatine Fathers in Thailand and offer psychological counselling to survivors in the same country. Funds also paid for the rebuilding of chapels and churches damaged or destroyed in the various affected countries.
Paolo Preziosa, of New Humanity-PIME, explained that "all economic recovery undertakings in fishing and farming have been completed. In Tamil Nadu we handed over boats to fishermen and on the Andamans we just started building schools and hostels".
The undertaking on the Andamans was "the hardest and biggest," he said, because "though near Myanmar, the archipelago is inaccessible from there. Materiel and aid from mainland India takes 36 hours by ship to arrive".
Housing is now the greatest priority, but there are many obstacles. First of all, the government is slow in assigning building lots. Then, there is India's rigid caste system.
"Inland, where people are better off and of higher social standing, few easily accept tsunami refugees," Mr Preziosa noted. "Till September, after the monsoons, nothing will happen."
Given the situation it is no wonder that PIME is receiving many requests for assistance from Protestant and Hindu communities as well as local authorities, especially around Chennai in Tamil Nadu. What better proof of PIME's effectiveness and professionalism.
Mr Preziosa said that locals were quite impressed with PIME's ability to "bring aid and undertake major projects on short notice."
He made clear that "to do this, we wait for our people to carry out a preliminary survey of what is really needed on the spot and then come up with targeted plans."
PIME staff already deployed in the affected countries manage the campaign. Only this, Father Sciocco said, "allowed us to focus on reconstruction."
"Only those who know the terrain can ensure continuity in the undertaking," he added.
Tonight, June 7, PIME is organising a meeting open to the public in its Milan headquarters. Direct personal experiences and taped material will be presented and provide an overview of what the campaign has done so far for the victims of the tsunami.
.png)
12/01/2005
