Caritas launches appeal for landslide victims in Bangladesh
Source: Caritas Internationalis
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Vatican City, 18 July 2007 – Caritas is launching an appeal for US$800,000 for reconstruction efforts after a series of landslides and floods in Bangladesh
left thousands homeless. On 17 June, landslides sparked by the torrential rainfall affected the Chittagong Port City area, and Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts, claiming 127 lives and
leaving many injured. Shelters, crops, and household belongings were lost in the landslides and floods. The Caritas Confederation through Caritas Bangladesh will build 1000 homes
for 10,000 families and also provide them with non-food items such as cooking equipment, clothing, bedding and other household materials. They will also provide clean water and sanitation for
the affected communities.Currently the survivors are living in temporary shelter or with host communities. An assessment team has already identified the families whose needs are not being met. Caritas Bangladesh Director Dr. Benedict Alo D'Rozario said: "The flooding and the landslides were devastating. Overnight heavy rains triggered the landslides, burying people in a wall of mud
and rock while they slept. Many bodies were trapped under the debris. "There is an urgent need to provide these families with shelter. Caritas has identified 10,000 families who currently are
not receiving help from the Government or other aid agencies. We can provide them with our support so they can rebuild their lives."Caritas will ensure the shelters built are ecologically
sustainable through appropriate use of natural resources. Caritas Bangladesh started relief and rehabilitation activities in 1970 after a devastating cyclone to the coastal areas of the
country. Since then, Caritas has been responding to various natural and man-made disasters in order to meet the basic needs of the affected people. So far, Caritas has spent over US$100 million for
its relief and rehabilitation activities.The major disasters for which Caritas carried out its relief and rehabilitation activities were: cyclones (1970, 1985, 1991-1998), floods (1974, 1980,
1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, and 2004), war (1971-73), fire incidents (1987, 2004), malaria (1995-97), drought (1979) and refugee crises (1978, 1992). Please contact Patrick Nicholson on 003906
69879 725 or 0039 334 6877925 or nicholson@caritas.va
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
