Caritas Pakistan hands out aid to the most vulnerable following heavy rains
by Shafique Khokhar

Card Coutts gives hope to the poor. As part of the EA-20/2020 emergency project, Caritas Pakistan Karachi handed out 10 shelter tents and plastic sheets to the families most affected by monsoon rain and flooding.

 


Karachi (AsiaNews) – Caritas Pakistan Karachi responded this week to the emergency situation created by heavy rains and flooding by handing out food and other parcels to the most vulnerable families in the parishes of St Jude's, St Philip's and St Thomas in the Archdiocese of Karachi.

The food parcels were donated by the Nobel Foundation through the Robin Hood Army Pakistan network at the request of Caritas Karachi for the communities most affected by recent heavy rains and floods in Karachi, the sixth spell of monsoon rains this season.

As part of the EA-20/2020 emergency project, Caritas Pakistan Karachi handed out 10 shelter tents and plastic sheets to the families most affected by monsoon rain and flooding in Shahbaz Goth and Ali Muhammad Goth, two areas in and near Malir district, Karachi.

The homes of the affected families have been completely washed out, and residents are now forced to live in poor conditions with their children.

With tears in his eyes, Sabir Masih, from one of the affected family, thanked Caritas for providing shelter, tents and plastic sheets and for arranging a safe and secure place for them.

He explained that they have been living in really wretched conditions; however, help from Caritas “has given us a hand and some hope. At present, we have been forced to live out in the open, hungry, but now we have enough help to survive”.

Archbishop Card Joseph Coutts of Karachi visited the affected areas and handed out food parcels to those displaced by the rains.

During the visit to the Parish of St Jude’s, the prelate tried to lift people their spirit. “Don’t be afraid in this difficult moment, be brave,” he told them.

In his praise for the Caritas Pakistan Karachi team, the cardinal said that “the work you are doing for the people is really good news and comforting".

For his part, Fr Benjamin Shahzad, parish priest of St Philip’s, expressed gratitude to “Card Joseph Coutts, for the support and guidance from Caritas Pakistan Karachi, the Church’s main charity, in helping the people in the affected parishes.”

Fr Anthony Abras, parish priest in St Thomas, thanked God for what was given to them. “We received these food packages with joy and happiness. The food may run out, but the happiness and joy will remain with us.”

Fr Abras also called on the faithful to pray for the Church and Caritas for their good work and for the support to the affected populations in this period of heavy rains in Karachi.

Caritas Pakistan Karachi executive secretary Mansha Noor said “we appreciate and thank our benefactors very much. They have made it possible to reach out to people and hand out everything we had.”