Interfaith prayer held for victims of Haiti earthquake

An interfaith prayer service for the victims of Haiti earthquake was organised by the Catholic Archdiocese in New Delhi on January 19.

The prayer service was held outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral and was participated by members of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities.

By uniting in prayer we want to show support and solidarity with the affected and bereaved, said Fr Dominic Emmanuel, the archdiocesan spokesperson.

Although we can't be there physically with them during this time of tragedy, we want to pray for a better situation, he added.

Fr Dominic, however, expressed satisfaction over the relief efforts of the Indian government, NGOs and civil society.

Last week's 7.0-magnitude quake has killed an estimated 200,000 people, according to Haitian government figures cited by the European Commission.

Countless dead remain buried in thousands of collapsed and toppled buildings in Port-au-Prince, while as many as 200,000 have fled the city of two million, the US Agency for International Development reported.

Since the devastating earthquake rocked Haiti, millions of dollars in aid has flowed to the Caribbean nation from around the world.

Besides the already announced financial aid of 5 million dollars, India has vowed to rebuild the quake-struck nation as well.

India is a co-sponsor in a General Assembly resolution that supports emergency relief and rehabilitation for the Haiti earthquake victims.

"We will do whatever is in our power to partner the people of Haiti in their journey to rebuild their lives and their nations," said Manjeev Singh Puri, India's deputy envoy to the United Nations.

"India is familiar with the consequences of natural disasters and therefore fully understands the trauma and the suffering that the Haitians are living through," he added.