Lahore (AsiaNews) "We are here to show our love and concern towards the earthquake victims, to those who have been wounded and those who are homeless. Through our visit we want to assure that we are with you in this difficult time," said Fr Francis Nadeem, vice provincial of the Capuchins in Pakistan, on visiting the victims of the October 8 Kashmir earthquake.
In his talk yesterday with hospital staff and patients at the Ghurkhi Trust Hospital at Jallo Mor Lahore, he assured them that the Catholic community was praying for them.
He was accompanied by Fr John Joseph and Fr Daniel Suply as well as Dr Abar Hahi Malik, Medical superintendent, who visited the patients at their bedside.
The clergymen handed out food, winter clothes and, for the children, toys to celebrate together the Eid al-Azha (aka Bakr-Id, ie the Feast of the Sacrifice or sheep), which marks the end of the pilgrimage to Makkah, Islam's greatest solemnity when Muslims celebrate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Before leaving the hospital, Father Nadeem said that his group will soon visit Balakot, the town hardest hit in the quake. (FN)