Catholic Church to provide over USD $ 6 million relief for Indian quake victims

New Delhi – The Catholic church in India is all geared up to provide a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation aid worth over USD $ 6 million for the quake victims of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has already adopted 12 villages in the state through its social arm, Caritas India.

"We are working on a comprehensive project, which would include construction and renovation of houses and three years of continuous support for education, health and livelihood for the 12 villages the army has already adopted for us," said Varghese Mattamana, assistant executive director of Caritas India.

The organization has joined hands with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS) of the Jammu and Kashmir Diocese in providing relief and rehabilitation aids in seven villages in Uri and five in Baramulla, devastated after the October 8 quake that killed 1,400 people in India and over 50,000 in Pakistan.
Besides, the organization has approached the Indian government for permission to extend its operations to the worst–affected villages in Pakistan administered Kashmir on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC).

The goal is to provide 4,000 families (an estimated 22,500 people) with essential food and non–food items such as blankets, stoves, and cooking utensils by the end of November 2005 in order to help mitigate their difficult living conditions. Around 3,000 families will receive emergency tented shelter. Caritas India and partners will work closely with local community leaders, district government officials, security forces, and other relief agencies.

By March 2006, it is hoped that 4,000 families will have regular access to basic health services, and 2,000 families will have built transitional houses with adequate sanitation facilities through material and cash–for–work incentives. Children are among the most affected by the earthquake, with many having lost parents, siblings, and friends. Their daily routines have been disrupted with the closure of schools. One of Caritas India’s objectives is to have 5,000 children participating in organised educational and recreational activities within the next several months to help start the psycho–social healing process.

Longer–term plans focus on community health, education, permanent shelter, and livelihood recovery. Caritas India reports that teams of community volunteers are working in the stricken areas, and should be in a good position to help promote health and education programmes during the harsh winter months.

Meanwhile, Caritas Internationalis has launched a worldwide appeal for over USD $ 5.5 million to help Caritas India respond to the immediate relief and rehabilitation needs of tens of thousands of quake victims in the Jammu and Kashmir Diocese. It has been more than a month since the massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Kashmir region, killing thousands and leaving scores of people injured, homeless, and in a desperate situation in both countries.