Caritas reaches out to elderly, widows for flood relief

The relief consists of food kit, sanitary kit and NFIs (Bed sheet, towels & more).

New Delhi:  Caritas India, the social arm of the Catholic Church in India, has prioritized the elderly, widows and children for providing relief to the flood-hit in Tamil Nadu.

In a press statement, it said that the organization is also giving priority to backward communities, minorities, fisher-folks and those physically and mentally challenged.

Caritas has been able to reach out to 16,000 flood-hit people in 24 villages across the four flood-hit districts of Chennai, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Kanchipuram.

The relief consists of food kit, sanitary kit and NFIs (Bed sheet, towels & more).

It will also include distribution of 50 thousand litters of drinking water as the need has been identified in certain pockets of urban Chennai.

Water is not much of a concern in the rural pockets of Tamil Nadu according to the rapid need assessment report conducted by the Caritas field team, the statement said.

“People are donating generously for this cause and we are keeping pace to reach the most needy in this difficult situation.” Fr. Frederick D’Souza, Executive Director of Caritas India, said.

He said that by the end of December, “our field team hopes to cover another 20 thousand people with relief, taking our total reach close to 36,000 affected people.

Caritas India is in touch with state disaster management authority and the Chennai based Tata Institute of Technology and is hopeful to bring out a long-term plan to reduce such calamities in the future, he added.

“Our team has become aware that the present floods are primarily the result of rampant human encroachment into water bodies,” Fr. D’Souza said.

END