The poor's show of solidarity
Colombo (AsiaNews) The deadly waves which swept across south-east Asia after Sunday's fatal quake wiped out entire communities across the region. They may also have washed away deep-rooted religious and other prejudices, to judge by the overwhelming show of solidarity without distinction coming from all around them.
This is certainly true in Sri Lanka where Buddhist monks are busy helping Catholics as they care for thousands of people displaced by the monster waves. Fr Sunil de Silva, secretary to Colombo's Catholic archbishop Mgr Oswald Gomis, said this joint effort is unfolding in stricken areas in the south of the island, where no less than 14 churches have been occupied by homeless people.
"Right now, we are occupied with immediate relief efforts for displaced people, thanks to contributions in money and in kind, like food and clothing. Survivors are in great need, especially in Payagala, the worst-affected area in this area around Colombo," said Fr de Silva.
"All the houses along the coastal line of Beruwala, Payagala and Wadduwa, have been completely washed off and destroyed. There is nothing left even for people to find.
"Something very encouraging is that Buddhist monks are busy helping Catholic people in need and are assisting to distribute food and clothes in churches."
Some Buddhist monks have gone even further: four temples opened their doors for Catholics to take shelter, and they may remain there until their houses are rebuilt.
The Archbishop of Colombo has appealed to people through the media to come forward and help survivors and to send immediate relief to the Archbishop's House. Fr de Silva said the response has been "unbelievable".
"People here have been very generous. Even the poorest of the poor have been coming forward to help the displaced people," he said.
And what caste people belong to does not matter, "it is not important at this time", continued Fr de Silva.
That caste and religious distinction should cease to matter is a silver lining on a very dark cloud. In Sri Lanka, dealings between leaders of the majority Buddhist and Muslim, Christian and Hindu minorities are often fraught with tension.
Relations are further complicated by ethnic and political problems, all fuelling a long-running war currently stalled by a fragile truce.
Seizing the moment, Archbishop Gomis has called on Sri Lanka's leaders to work together to "reunite and rehabilitate the country", said Fr de Silva. "Our archbishop has also appealed to Catholics to pray, especially tomorrow, declared by the President as a day of national mourning."
Meanwhile, efforts of the Catholic Church to reach out to quake survivors are going strong. The Colombo Archbishop today held an emergency meeting to organize an immediate relief program, to assess how the Church can help coordinate with government and international organizations.
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30/12/2004
