Indian Churches Respond to Tsunami Disaster, with Aid, Hope and Prayer

New Delhi – In the wake of the earthquake and the tsunami that has left over 14,000 dead in India, the Church has launched one of the biggest and most demanding relief operations in history, with dioceses, both Catholic and Protestant, throughout India reaching out to help tsunami survivors.

Dioceses in western Gujarat, where a powerful earthquake in 2001 killed thousands, have resolved "not to repeat the mistakes" in relief work they made earlier.

"We are not encouraging people to donate old clothes, utensils or any such materials. What the victims need is financial help right now," said Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, who is coordinating with the Jesuit provincial of Gujarat in the effort.

Circulars distributed by Gujarat bishops to their parishes said the same thing. They asked for money rather than material help.

"We have expertise in rehabilitation and the Church is ready to respond to it with its available resources," Fr. Prakash said.

Jesuit Bishop Godfrey de Rozario of Baroda in Gujarat, said he is working to get victims what they need immediately, which is tents and plastic roofs.

Prakash Patel, a Hindu businessman who narrowly escaped Gujarat's 2001 earthquake, said he has collected plastic sheets for temporary shelter for the tsunami victims. "Unless you experience the pain, you won't be able to gauge the situation," Patel added.

In certain areas along the Tamil Nadu coast, Church leaders are quietly reaching the victims.

For example in Cuddalore, the Christian voluntary group Sumanahalli (village of goodwill) has brought two truckloads of food and clothing. The group, based in the southwestern city of Bangalore, has adopted the five most severely affected villages after realizing the fishing community requires basic help in rebuilding their homes.

The Catholic group also plans to help fishermen repair their damaged boats. "We plan to assist the fishermen in getting back to their normal lives as quickly as possible," said C. Oommen George, its program coordinator.

The coast is strewn with hundreds of damaged catamarans and motorized boats. More than 500 lives were lost in the tragedy in Cuddalore district, 30 kilometers from Pondicherry.

Father A.S. Antonisamy, parish priest of Pondicherry's St. Francis of Assisi Church, who is now on a relief mission in Cuddalore, said his parish would adopt five villages for rehabilitation, if it receives permission from Church administrators.

Sumanahalli and St. Francis of Assisi Parish are concentrating on providing books and other study materials for the children in the villages. "Children are the main victims in the tragedy. We hope to provide some solace to them," Fr. Antonisamy said.

Bombay archdiocese, based in Mumbai in the western India state of Maharashtra, has appealed to its parishes, religious and educational institutions for help with emergency relief as well as with long–term rehabilitation programs.

In a December 27 circular, Cardinal Ivan Dias of Bombay said Caritas India, the bishops' national social–service agency, would prefer monetary contributions, since food, clothing, medicines and utensils are available in the disaster–hit areas.

Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai, which is just north of Bombay archdiocese, said his diocese has started a prayer campaign in all parishes "as God alone can comfort and console the victims of this tragedy."

Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur, also in western India, said he has asked parishes, religious houses and educational institutions to
raise money. Some seminaries from Nagpur have volunteered to work in the affected areas.

Jalandhar diocese in northern Punjab state has discussed ways to help victims. The December 28 meeting that Bishop Symphorian Keeprath of Jalandhar chaired urged all its institutions and organizations to "collaborate generously," said diocesan spokesperson Father Michael Anikuzhikattil. It was also proposed that each member of the diocese would offer a day's wage for relief work.

The Church of North India (CNI), a Protestant Church, and its dioceses and their social service wing, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), have also rushed relief assistance.

CNI general secretary Reverend Enos Das Pradhan said that CASA has already covered most of southern India through its existing machinery. "It is now focusing on rushing relief to Andaman and Nicobar and other areas where relief has yet to arrive," he explained.

The CNI has a diocese in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory, where the official death toll is 5,000 but media are reporting 7,000, equal with Tamil Nadu. However, unofficial reports say that the toll on one island, Car Nicobar, alone could exceed 15,000.