Response of Kerala Catholic Church – Flood Kerala 2018
Background
Kerala State is facing the fourth flood situation during the last 65 days. The first flood was on the 2nd week of June 2018. It continued for two weeks. The second flood started on the 2nd week of July and continues till the 4th week of July. After a short break third series of flood has started 31st July 2018. At present the entire State is facing the fourth Flood situation. Torrential rain is continuing in Kerala State especially in Wayanad, Calicut, Kannur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Ernakkulam districts.
- All the 44 rivers in Kerala are overflowing.
- In the history of Kerala for the first time of 39 Dams are opened due to overflowing of water. Kerala Government has announced red alert in all the 14 Districts. More than 300 small and medium Landslides are reported in Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad , Calicitt, and Palakkad districts.
Damages at a glance
- 220 people died within last five days ( 2018 August 16- 20)
- Missing of people – 38
- Hospitalized- 133
- Houses damaged as per primary report- 26000
- Loss of cattle – 46000
- Poultry loss- 200000
- Crop Loss- 40000 hectares
- As per primary reports agriculture loss is 2500 crores
- PWD Road damages – 16000 kilometers
- Local Roads damaged – 82000 Kilometers
- Bridges damaged – 134
- Total Loss is 15,000 to 20000 crores
- Road, rail and air transport blocked
- The actual loss yet to be calculated
Relief Camps
- 10 ,00,000 people shifted to relief camps
- In Kuttanad 140,000 people shifted to the relief camps in Changanacherry and Alappuzha
- Around 50000 people from Kuttanad settled in their relatives houses in Changanacherry and surrounding areas
- St. Barchans’ College Changanacherry is supplying food to 32 relief camps in Changanacherry and even in Ernakulam District.
Kerala Catholic Church in Action
Kerala Catholic Church is with the Kerala community and doing the best for extending all relief support. Kerala Social Service Forum the official arm of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council sprang in to action through its 32 partner Diocesan Social service Societies. The entire Diocesan structures and people in Kerala fully occupied in the Relief work.
Relief camps in Church institutions
- 1000 Educational institutions
- 100 Parish halls
- 32Monasteries,
- 12presbyteries
- Help desks
- 192 Help desks
Rescue Operations in Kerala
195 of school vans, 40 tippers, 40 Motor boats, 500 Yamaha country boats, 400 fishing boats 300 other vehicles etc for relief and rescue operations in Kerala
Involvement of social apostolate
- 32 Diocesan Social Service Societies and their entire team are fully engaged in relief activities.
Involvement of parishes
- 1298 Catholic Parishes
Hospitals
- 52 Catholic Hospitals
Church personnel
- 1562 priests
- 2567 religious
- 354 seminarians
- 20000 youths
- 45000 laity/ volunteers
- 300 Volunteers from Thalasserry and Bathery dioceses are getting ready for cleaning operations in calamity stricken areas.
Relief operations
Supplied food, cloths, sanitary items, cooking utensils, medicines, drinking water, bakery, washing and Cleaning materials etc worth Rs. 15 crores within this period. The relief work is continuing.
Church leadership in action
- Catholic Bishop’s issued circulars to mobilize resources from parishes to help the victims.
- Catholic Bishop’s in Kerala visited the calamity stricken areas and vibrated the Church set up to usher the relief activities.
Response of Indian Catholic Church
- Caritas India the Official organ of the Catholic Bishops Council already extended their support to 19 DSSS in Kerala
- Caritas India contributed Rs. 1 crore till date
- Caritas team in Kerala for assessing the damages and planning for relief/ rehabilitation operation in future
- Catholic Hospital Association of India, Catholic Relief Services, etc are working out action plan for interventions
World Church
His Holiness Pope Fancies plead for emergency support for Kerala community