| India – All Working to help Flood Victims |
| India – The Flood Relief works of the Salesians in the affected areas |
(ANS – Chennai) – The people of Chennai district, Tamil Nadu, are deeply affected by heavy rain and floods that happened on 1st and 2nd December 2015. “Most of our people are washed out. They have lost their house and belongings - everything. The area where I live is particularly heavily affected by floods and they have no food, clothes and shelter right now” said Fr. M. Antony, Rector of Don Bosco Technical Institution in North Chennai.
Don Bosco Flood Relief continues. From 7th December onwards it has begun organizing medical camps in various areas.
An extensive Flood Relief camp was organized at Satyavanimuthu Nagar. More than 500 people benefitted from this camp. They were given medicines, bread and mosquito coils. The two priests, Fr Joseph Jeyaraj and Fr Paulraj of Ennore, offered them a glimmer of hope promising that they would return at the first opportunity with further help.
Another camp was organized at Goundarpalayam, a small little village near Athipattu. About 300 families of this village are daily labourers working in neighbouring container depots. They are all residing near the Kondaleri River and the river water overflowed and submerged the whole village. Water rose up to four-and-a-half feet and people had to desert their homes to a nearby go down leaving all their belongings. They had to wade through the water and waste in the late evening, carrying their children on their shoulders.
More than 350 people benefitted from this camp. They were given medicines, nighties, sarees, T-shirts, towels, soap and tooth paste.
Don Bosco Flood Relief, Cuddalore, has had heavy damage but still it has come forward to support the neighbouring villages by taking initiatives to help them in their struggles. Food Packets and Relief materials were distributed.
Yesterday, 10th December, Fr. Raphael Jayapalan the Provincial of Chennai, visited the flood-affected area and met the local leaders issuing immediate relief materials to the villages.
The Salesians now solicit solidarity by way of medicines and other forms of support.
Further information is available on the Facebook page “Don Bosco Relief Fund”.
Published 11/12/2015
