President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People explains how Catholic organisations are dealing with the tsunami tragedy.

Rome (AsiaNews) – Members of the Council for Migrants and Itinerant People and international representatives of the Apostolate for the Sea discussed this morning relief distribution and psychological support for tsunami victims.

Card Fumio Hamao, President of the Pontifical Council, told AsiaNews that "there is a lot of money available for relief operations and we are now studying how we can best use it".

The Cardinal explained that to guarantee proper management of the donated funds, the latter "are given to dioceses and Caritas centres in the affected countries". In addition, the Church has set up a "concrete network of cooperation" with Caritas internationalis, Card Hamao said. Some members of the organisation were also present at today's meeting.

The Cardinal noted that relief operations faced no difficulties. "The action of the Church in favour of the victims in tsunami-affected areas is not facing any type of obstacles. Cooperation with other religious communities is strong".

The prelate stressed that the Apostolate of the Sea and the Council of Migrants (to which the former belongs) "are born of an ecumenical vocation and are used to work with people from other religions, especially in Asia".

The Church's long-term action will focus on fishermen, who are most affected by the disaster (in Indonesia, 60 per cent of all boats were lost), but not only them. "It is important," Card Hamao said, "to provide people with psychological support, especially the children".

As in the case of economic aid, the Church's psychological support will be focused. "To provide youth-oriented help," he said, "we shall consult local parishes to find out what the real needs are".

Card Hamao added that during the meeting participants focused on the positive value of "globalised solidarity" that is now centred on Asia but which must include other parts of the world where "there are urged needs such as Sudan and Rwanda".

The meeting, which ends late this afternoon, follows that of the coordinators of the Apostolate of the sea (January 31-February 1) who came to Rome from around the world for their annual assembly to discuss their respective pastoral situations and plan common activities.

Among them there were delegates from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

The Apostolate of the Sea is present in 116 countries and involves more than 200 priests. (MA)

• vatican
• asia
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• fumio
• hamao
• tsunami
• earthquake
• seaquake
• fishermen
• reconstruction
• relief