Jakarta, Catholics aid flood victims
Jakarta
(AsiaNews) - Indonesian Catholics are responding to appeals from the civil
authorities in Jakarta, with a collection of goods and basic necessities for
the displaced due to heavy floods in the capital (see AsiaNews 17/01 / 13 Jakarta
paralysed by heavy flooding and traffic congestion). Yesterday,
the governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo declared a "state of
emergency", launching a formal request for aid; a quarter of the capital is
flooded and, according to local sources, the wall of water in some places has
reached four meters high. The
toll so far is 11 dead, with tens of thousands of people left homeless. The
areas most affected is Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, crossed by the river
Ciliwung, which burst its banks and is one of the main causes of flooding.
Many
voluntary groups, activist organizations and ordinary citizens, including
Catholics have responded to the appeal launched by the authorities. In
the Kampung Melayu, the parish of St. Anthony in Bidara Cina opened its doors
to people of all religions, hosting many refugees and offering them shelter. The
Church initiative was joined by different groups of the faithful who have
managed to collect food, drinking water and items for personal hygiene.
In
Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, Catholics are a small
minority of about 7 million people, equivalent to 3% of the total population. In
the Archdiocese of Jakarta, the faithful amount to 3.6% of the population. The
constitution provides for freedom of religion, but the community is often the
victim of acts of violence and abuse, especially in areas where an extremist
view of Islam is more entrenched, as in Aceh. However,
as in this instance, they are an active part in society and contribute to the
development of the nation or aid work during emergencies.
Among
the many examples of solidarity is an initiative launched by Catholic lay woman
Theresa Rita, from parish of St. Joseph in Matraman, who responded
"enthusiastically" to the call of the priests of the capital. Using
smartphones and social networks, the woman set up a mailing list, sending out an
appeal for the collection of so-called " nasi bungkus",
small bags containing rice and water. The
generosity of the people has resulted in thousands of these small parcels, even
from other dioceses of the archipelago.
In
Bogor, in fact, a fundraiser was held sponsored by Suparman Surjadi and his
wife Linda Nurtjahja, a doctor by profession, and Ingrid Barata, among all the
faithful of the parish of St. Francis Xavier. "We
immediately received millions in donations," Surjadi told AsiaNews
"sent by many Catholics who wished to support our mission." The
goods collected are allocated to the committee for social activities of the
Archdiocese of Jakarta, which acts as a clearinghouse. The
Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) also actively contributes to the aid work,
to alleviate the suffering of the people in the capital paralyzed by floods.
.png)
22/09/2016 08:53
