Unfortunately, due to unusually heavy and destructive monsoon rains in the Sindh province, there has been even more flooding this year in and around the city of Badin, Pakistan. Columban Fr. Tom Cavanagh lives and works in the Columban parish in Badin and shared the following update with me.

We have had a constant flow of people coming to the parish center looking for food rations. Unfortunately the minority Christian communities say that they are being neglected in favor of the majority Muslim community. In some instances food rations have been taken back when it was discovered that they were not Muslims.

Then people began arriving who had not eaten since the previous day. At best they had had only one meal a day. Because of the water lots of mosquitoes are bothering people, and malaria is on the rise. I met a family who escaped with only the clothes on their backs. At one stage the main road to Karachi from Badin was under water. Among the people we encountered were ten families who had fled the rising waters. It can be very traumatic seeing such a mass of humanity suffering so much. The response can feel inadequate, but the parish team did as much as it could.

Even though the rain has stopped, there are still large tracts of land flooded. People are unable to return to their villages to rebuild their houses and to plant crops. Food ration distributions are likely to continue until the flood waters clear fully to enable crops to be planted and harvested. The usual format is a tour is made of villages; people in need are given tokens and they come to the parish center where the aid packages are distributed.

At this time, Fr. Tom and the parish team are busy responding to the most recent round of flooding. They are ever grateful for the kindness, generosity and compassion of people like you who make their work possible. We gratefully keep you and yours in our Masses and prayers.

We humbly ask that you continue to pray for the people of Pakistan affected by the latest rounds of floods and for the Columbans and others who stand with them, ministering to the needs of both body and soul.

To donate to the relief effort, or to support another Columban project, please visit:

People were keen to purchase the banners for a number of reasons. The nativity scenes are attractive, bright in color and hand stitched. They depict the age old story of Jesus being born in the manger. Further, the sale of each banner helped poor women earn a little income to support their families. For the first time in their lives they had a little cash in the hand to meet immediate needs.

Father Dan recently wrote that, “The practical help…is deeply appreciated. Tens of thousands [of people] were displaced in the flood disaster, vast areas of crops were lost, houses were destroyed and animals died. We are still taking food rations and clothes to people in need in the parish area. The distribution of the nativity banners is a worthwhile mission effort bringing a touch of hope in the midst of hardship.”

On March 2, 2011, those who work toward peace and justice suffered a great tragedy for on that day, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistani Minister for Minority Affairs, was assassinated. Shahbaz Bhatti was the only Christian cabinet member in the majority Muslim country of Pakistan. At great personal risk, he dedicated his life to working toward promotion of universal values of sanctity of life and dignity for all people. He worked for the realization of human rights and a life free of religious discrimination for all. Bhatti’s death removed one of the few Pakistani leaders openly advocating the reform of laws which negatively affect minorities.

In February 2010, Julie Espina heard Mr. Bhatti speak at an event in Washington, DC. After hearing about Mr. Bhatti’s assassination, she shared these thoughts:

“This is very sad news. I heard Minister Bhatti speak last winter at the Religious Action Center. It was a small, informal event in which perhaps twenty-fi ve people were gathered around a long conference room table to hear Mr. Bhatti speak and to ask him questions about his work. Mr. Bhatti was invited to share about his work in Pakistan and about the challenges he faced.

The host of the event stressed the fact that Mr. Bhatti had received threats because of his work, and that especially among extremist groups, he was not a popular individual. In his presentation, Mr. Bhatti expressed his awareness of the dangers of his job and implicitly stated his willingness to risk his life in order to advance the rights of minorities. I had heard others speak about a willingness to die for a cause, but I had never before heard someone speak of it with such palpable resolution.

Despite the gravity of his statements, I have to admit that I left the event without a true understanding of how seriously Mr. Bhatti was putting his life on the line. While listening to him speak in a cushy conference room on Washington D.C.’s Embassy Row, it required mental effort to grasp the dangerous nature of his career choice. Given my limited understanding of what it means to risk your life for your ideals, I left the event with an incomplete picture in my mind of Mr. Bhatti. He was someone with an international air and a cosmopolitan vibe who championed the cause of religious, ethnic and cultural minorities in his home country; who visited the U.S. to meet with senior government offi cials. The idea that he was risking his life for all of that just added some glamour to his reputation.

My fl awed understanding of Mr. Bhatti’s risk made his assassination more shocking. Here was a man whom I had met, whose hand I had shaken, who was brutally murdered for standing up for his beliefs, for trying to make his country a better place. He had said he understood the risks, was aware of the stakes, knew what he was doing. I just wasn’t able to see the reality of it until I read the headlines announcing his death.

For a few days after his assassination, I kept thinking of the event last winter, trying to remember more of what he said. I took his business card out of my card case more than once, staring at the name and title, the embossed green text and offi cial seal. What I kept coming back to was the sense of inspiration I felt during the presentation last February. Even with my limited understanding of the genuine risk he was taking, Mr. Bhatti’s determination to work for peace and justice in the face of opposition provided hope for the future of minority affairs in Pakistan, and in all regions of the world. Mr. Bhatti’s life was an example of a total commitment to justice, and it is a shame that Pakistan’s minorities now have one fewer defender. However, I am certain that I am not the only one who was inspired by his words and actions and I remain confident that his sacrifi ce will not be forgotten, hopeful that his example will be followed.”

Upon learning of the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach drafted a statement recognizing the immense and unforgettable achievements of Mr. Bhatti. We extended our solidarity to the people of Pakistan and the continuation of Mr. Bhatti’s dream of human rights for minorities in Pakistan. One hundred and twelve individuals signed onto the letter and it was sent it to the Pakistani embassy. People from both the Catholic and Muslim faiths signed onto the letter, expressing their gratitude for and solidarity with Shahbaz Bhatti.

Mr. Bhatti’s life was one committed to justice.We applaud his work and all that he has done in support of peace and justice.

“Freely, you have received, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live.”

This hymn, along with the awareness that we are called “to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God,” has inspired me down through the years. When I went to Pakistan, after having been on mission in Korea for over 20 years, some of my friends were celebrating their early retirement!

Many thought that I was crazy to be begin at the bottom again, to face the challenge of learning yet another language and culture, this time in a country where Islam was the dominant faith. Yet, to me, it was simply a matter of following my heart and our missionary call that invites us to enter into the dialogue of life with people of other cultures and faiths.

Yes, there is the searing heat to contend with in Pakistan where winter temperatures average 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) and summer 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

The food is hot and spicy. The poverty is stark, and the needs are great. In addition, three months of language study left me confused and inarticulate. My early utterings and mutterings required a high degree of intuitive interpretation on the part of any listener, while many found my signs and gestures far more intelligible!

Missionaries have personal experience of what it is like to be a stranger in a land where often our physical features and mannerisms mark us as different. Standing in the queue in Immigration, I found myself in the line for ALIENS!

It is not a comfortable feeling to be on the outside.What changes this perception is the experience of being welcomed and included which often happens through the warmth of unexpected gestures of acceptance and friendship, such as a smile, a handshake or an offer to help.

In Pakistan, as in Ireland, hospitality centers around a cup of tea, or chai, as it is called in Urdu. The leaves and water are boiled together, a large quantity of sugar and a good drop of milk are added and the boiling process continues until the right color and fl avor is achieved. It is in the waiting for the tea to be made, and in the drinking of it, that so much of life is shared and questions raised and answered.

“Why have you come? Where is your husband? How many children have you raised?” When people hear that Sisters do not marry, they are absolutely flabbergasted for in the Muslim way of life it is the purpose of women to bear children.

The dialogue has only just begun…. Sitting with both Christian and Muslim women in moments of deep joy at a wedding or a birth, or in the sadness of an illness or death, have been privileged moments of grace. God uses both the happy and the painful experiences in life to crack the protective shells we wrap around ourselves and to break through the barriers that divide us.

Except in the most modern cities, Muslim women keep a low profile and are rarely seen in public. When they do venture out they are usually covered in a burkah, a head-to-foot mantle and veil. Few women work in restaurants, shops or the civil service. The men also go to the market to shop for vegetables and daily family needs. Christians and other minorities often find themselves on the fringes of society because of poverty and social discrimination. They value the presence and active support of missionaries who work on their behalf and for the common good of the wider community.

I am often asked by those at home, “What is the point of going to Pakistan when 97% of its 140 million people are Muslim, and the Christian community is so small?” I believe the need for dialogue with non-Christians becomes more evident when we reflect on the fears and prejudices that have been compounded by such events as 9/11 in New York, 7/7 in London and the situation today in the Middle East and Iraq. Dialogue is a way to build bridges so that we can move forward in hope. In welcoming Christ in the stranger, I am drawn ever deeper into the heart of God, the Maker of us all.

Columban Sr. Roberta Ryan lives and works in Pakistan where the Sisters still are dealing with the after effects of the flooding

The article originally appears in the February 2011 issue of Columban Mission.

Two parishes where Columbans work were directly affected; a rural part of the parish of Badin where Frs. Daniel O’Connor and Feliciano Fatu work, plus neighboring Jati where Fr. Robert McCulloch ministers. Funding also supports the relief work of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Hyderabad, where Fr. Robert McCulloch also ministers. St. Mary’s High School, Sukkur, St. Mary’s High School, Hyderabad, and the parish team of Kotri, which is just across the Indus River from Hyderabad, all carried out relief work that was supported by Columban funding. The vast majority of the people to whom the flood relief has been given are Tribal Peoples who live along the banks of the Indus River.

In the immediate aftermath of the flooding the priority was to get food, medicines and shelter to flood affected people. It is estimated that more than a thousand families received food rations and clean drinking water. Food rations consist of drinking water, sugar, spices, tea leaves, lentils, onions, potatoes, biscuits and milk powder, clean drinking water plus nutritional supplements to deal with malnutrition issues. Where necessary this relief work is still ongoing. As the cold winter nights set in relief help expanded to include warm clothes, blankets and mattresses. 4,000 quilts have been distributed.

JATI
Jati is located near the Indus River. It is part of Hyderabad Cathedral Parish, where Fr. McCulloch ministers. There are 27-Christian families in Jati. The people have their own land and are a self-supporting Church and community. One diocesan priest and two diocesan seminarians come from this community. All children attend school. Most families suffered total or major crop loss; seven had their homes completely inundated. They need assistance to carry on until the next harvest in April but in a way that they are able to retain their self-respect and dignity. Since September, 21 families were and will continue to be provided with $95 and six families $47 per month through April 2011. The families themselves have established that these amounts are sufficient for them. In November each flood affected family was provided with sufficient seed of either wheat or sunflower, and fertilizer to sow five acres of crops.

ST. ELIZABETH’S HOSITAL, HYDERABAD
The Mobile Medical Outreach Team of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital has given medical care to 12,259 people: 4,169 women, 2,631 men and 5,459 children. The hospital has conducted a Mobile Medical Outreach since 2006. Many of these people live in the areas affected by the floods in 2010 so the hospital has been in the privileged position of being able to accurately assess the needs of people during and after the flood and carry out the appropriate response. The most common medical issues are skin diseases, typhoid, malaria, gastro-enteritis and eye infections. The medical team consists of 2 doctors, 2 male nurses, 2 female nurses, 2 midwives, a laboratory technician, and a driver who is statistician/record-keeper. The medical team members are Christian, Muslim, and Hindu. They give a good witness in interfaith compassion. The Mobile Medical Outreach goes out 3 times a week. Each place is followed up every 8-10 days. As needed, surgical and delivery cases are brought back to the hospital for care which is provided free of cost.

HOUSE RECONSTRUCTION

The majority of people are bonded agricultural laborers who live on the land of feudal landlords. Their lifestyle is transitory and many move from landlord-to-landlord on a regular basis. It is neither possible nor viable for them to build permanent dwellings. However, the traditional dwellings are warm in winter and cool in summer and have generations of wisdom behind them.

Building materials are being provided to enable the traditional dwelling to be more long lasting and to be rebuilt quickly, which will ensure that the people do not fall further into debt to the landlords by taking loans to rebuild. They are also easy to dismantle and move on when necessary. Material for the reconstruction of 300 houses has been provided. For each house a steel girder for central beam of the roof, wooden rafters, thatching material, windows, and an iron door are provided. The people then very quickly, on a community basis, use these materials to reconstruct the houses.

When all the houses in a village are built, a solar power unit is installed in each house sufficient for 3 power-saver lights. Each unit costs $341. We believe that this major development in the quality of living of the people after the flood is a sign of hope for the future. So far 53 solar power units have been installed and the supplier cannot keep up with the demand!

After the solar power units, the next step is to build bathing and toilet facilities, the construction of which most landlords are agreeing to. This will be a significant step forward in ongoing preventative health care. It is hoped to have 1,500 such homes built by the end of January 2011. The solar power installations will keep going as quickly as the supplier can provide and install them.

LAND PURCHASE

Since the floods hit the Sindh province, the Columban Sisters have been journeying with and providing flood relief fora group of 118 families who sought shelter on the dry barren land off the Super Highway linking Karachi and Hyderabad. They fled the lands of the landlord where they were working as share croppers when the floods came.

Some families no longer wish to return to the lands where they were bonded and prefer to stay near the city of

Hyderabad. Settling near a city will give them the opportunity to find work plus an opportunity to educate their children as well as escaping the scourge of bonded labor. The Columban Sisters identified suitable land that will be able to house around 48 families and purchased it. Some funding from Columban Fathers benefactors has been used as part payment for the land purchase.

FUTURE PLANS

1. The Mobile Medical Outreach from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital will continue. It is planned to set up two teams in January 2011 to cover increasing demand and need.

2. Food rations and winter clothing will continue to be provided as necessary.

3. Hand pumps are also being provided which is a relatively economical means of providing a regular supply of clean drinking water. It also saves women a lot of time and effort from having to walk long distances for a water supply.

4. Housing and long term rehabilitation: many communities of people live on the land of landowners. Many of these have been displaced due to the floods and now wish to settle near cities where work and schooling and other services are more easily available. Also it will help them break away from bonded labor.

In response to this need suitable land is being sought with a view to purchase. In addition a survey of the number of families who may want to move from the land to city life where, relatively speaking, they will have more stability and control over their future is being conducted.

Finally, it is a well-known fact that there is a lot of corruption in Pakistan at all levels, especially in state institutions. Church institutions are not immune from it either. So it is a challenge to disburse and use the significant funding received to ensure it reaches the people in need. As the Columban Fathers are missionaries with a long presence in the country and an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the culture, for us the challenge is considerably easier.

Again sincere thanks for your generosity and support.

Fr. John Burger

Fr. John Burger serves on the Society’s general council and lives in Hong Kong.

Once, when asked to describe the Columban Fathers in seven distinct ways, Fr. Burger provided a description for every day of the week. Read what he wrote.

Certainly faith, unity and discipline are positive values. However, swords, as we know, are two edged. Can the sword of faith, when wielded by the state, still maintain a safe place for those of minority faiths or no faith? Can unity avoid being uniformity? And can it still make space for diversity? Can discipline be enforced by the state, without becoming mere coercion? Or does not true discipline really come from within a person?

The use and abuse of religion in politics would appear to be the cause of many ills in Pakistan and generates misunderstanding and discrimination against religious minorities, including the country’s Christian minority. It probably will not be resolved until the Pakistani government can make real progress towards reform of the Constitution and legal system, including addressing the delicate question of the presence of religion in politics. What can be done in the meantime?

Fr. Robert McCulloch in front of the midwifery school at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

For several years, the Commission for Justice and Peace at the Pakistani Conference of Bishops has been leading a campaign against the political use of religion, exemplified by measures such as the blasphemy law and the electoral law, which divided voters according to their religious affiliation.

Archbishop Saldanha, speaking on behalf of his fellow bishops, has said that “growing extremism in the country is one of the key issues in the abuse of religion in politics. Religion, in fact, is the main excuse in the hands of ‘religious parties,’ who have played a key role in leading the country to this threshold.”

Indeed, the Archbishop notes, “a political system influenced by religion discriminates against minorities and their rights,” while the Constitution may not be a “document that serves as guardian of a faith,” as in the foundational Charter of Pakistan. The Constitution, which in Article 2 already proclaims Islam a “religion of state,” was amended in 1985 by “undemocratic forces” with the addition of the so-called “Objectivity Resolution,” an attachment that tilts more strongly in favor of the Islamic religion.

Students of the midwifery school

In this campaign for the independence of politics and religion, the Catholic Church seeks the consent of the other minority religious communities and civil society, as well as the majority Muslim community. The aim is to revive these arguments in the public forum, asking the government for constitutional reform and the abolition of all those laws that lead to religious discrimination among Pakistani citizens. Subtle discrimination has a way of chipping away, often unconsciously, at one’s sense of self worth.

What else is being done for the victims of religious discrimination? In Hyderabad, Fr. Robert McCulloch brought me over to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, home of a school of midwifery. The Columbans and their benefactors and friends as well as the Irish government and Australian Overseas Aid have helped secure various pieces of equipment for the hospital over the years. Mr. Francis, the hospital administrator, Sr. Miriam, head of the school of midwifery, and her fellow Holy Family Sr. Victorine, toured me around and answered my questions about the educational program at the hospital for midwives and the healthcare problems the people face. The population has extremely high rates of hepatitis B and C, as well as diabetes.

The midwifery school provides a way for Catholic young women who have completed high school to get a professional, highly valued skill in a year and a half that will help them and their communities. Sr. Miriam, a Sri Lankan missionary who herself trained in England, is proud not only of the high percentage of her students who pass, but also of how well the graduates do on the government’s licensing test. Is there a similar path out of poverty and discrimination for young Catholic boys who also tend to be from low caste backgrounds?

To answer that question, Fr. McCulloch brought me around to the “School of Excellence” that he has set up with help from Columban benefactors. The regular school day at most schools ends about 1:30 p.m., but the boys who have been  admitted to this program come to a center, the “School of Excellence,” where they are given intensive help in English, Urdu, and mathematics, as well as classes in religion and art. According to the boys and their parents, the result has been nothing short of amazing. Not only have the boys’ grades improved, but they have become a positive presence in their homes. Senior high schools are now anxious to get these students; the hope is that many of them will secure university scholarships and be on their way toward an entirely different life. The school also has basic literacy classes for boys who have dropped out of school and are already working as street sweepers.

Students and staff of the School of Excellence

Perhaps excelling at their studies or in their professional lives is the only way that these bright young people will be able to gain acceptance by the larger society. It is a way of proving themselves. If they cannot be accepted by the mainstream Muslim culture of Pakistan because of discriminatory attitudes, they can still show their worthiness by being the best students, excelling in their studies, becoming professors, scientists or other professionals that are held in high regard by the community. But it still is a bitter pill to swallow that they have to work so much harder to simply be treated equally. Maybe this “model minority” phase is one that they will have to go through, but the basic problems of prejudice and unequal treatment remain.

With the Talibanization of the country, and the eruption of violence that has happened around the country in recent months, do the bishops have a reasonable expectation that their hopes will be achieved? Maybe the answer can come from another quotation from Muhammad Ali Jinnah, “With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”

This article originally appeared in the October 2010 issue of Columban Mission.

Will you help? The Columbans in Pakistan are supporting flood victims start over after flood ruined much if not all of what they had. Please prayerfully consider making a donation.

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The relief work continues and is carried out by many different groups and organizations both inside and outside the Church. This includes some parishes which were affected by the floods and are receiving support from Columban benefactors. The relief work will continue for a considerable length of time.

The relief work includes distributing food packages and medical help. As we begin the winter season, there will be a need for warm clothes and bedding plus choirpoys, i.e. stringed beds. Immediately after the floods many people were sleeping on the ground, leaving themselves more open to the risk of insect and snake bites.

The Columban parish of Badin continues to support people who were affected by the flood in part of the parish. The St. Elizabeth’s medical outreach team continues its work to the affected areas, and the Columban Sisters also continue their relief work.

The small parish of Jati is one of the areas where stagnant water is still present. The people in Jati own their own small holdings but cannot plant a crop until the water clears. Until the water recedes, the families will receive a stipend to tide them over until the land is ready for cultivation. At that stage they will also receive assistance with seeds and fertilizers.

It is more difficult and complex to offer such help to people who don’t have their own land and are living on the lands of landlords and are in debt to them. For example, a man from the village (shown in the photos) was arrested and put in jail at the behest of a false charge brought by the landlord, because he was unable to pay his debt. Some landlords will demand payment for their often falsely exaggerated debts if they see their bonded laborers receiving overt help. So help will have to be given in a more discreet way.

Fr. Tomas King lives and works in Pakistan.

Columban Sisters were there when Pakistani's needed help surviving the floods earlier this year.

For weeks our adrenalin was pumping, wondering if the mighty Indus would invade our house and surrounding area in Latifabad, like everybody else who could afford money, we bought in non-perishable foods that would take us through the disaster.

Our Columban congregation, families and friends kept vigil with us by phoning and texting us and we knew that we were not alone.

When it was time for us to leave our security behind, three Columban Sisters and some of our team crossed the mighty Indus River. We saw the power of its merciless torrents flash by, swallowing up everything in its sight.

On the highways and byways we sought out those who had genuinely lost all. They were everywhere… some begging for their daily bread, women with flocks of children around them, distressed and despairing, babies in arms undernourished out under the sun with no shade but a tilted charpoi (string bed) which is moved around to protect them from the glaring sun.

It is still monsoon time and when it is raining they have no cover except for a handmade razai (bed-spread) to give them shelter. Men were trying to fend for their families and many of these women now exposed to the elements may never have seen outside the four walls of their homes as many families in interior Sindh keep ‘purdah’ (curtain). This means they live literally behind the curtain, and now, being exposed to the stares of those zooming along in cars on the super highway, they cannot be but traumatized.

Eventually we focused on one group of very needy people on the super highway as our starting point. It was a painful sight to see. These people came from Larkana which is a distance of about seven hours away and it took them days to get here as their villages were completely flooded.  They shared their story with us and our team manager, who made an assessment of their needs which consisted of tents, food, children’s clothes, pots, water cooler and water.

Thanks to you our benefactors we were able to move into action immediately. That evening, cooked food was served to 109 people as they had had nothing to eat for three days.

The next day was a day full of team spirit and on Tuesday we brought them their tents, non-perishable food stuffs, water and water coolers to quench their thirst under the scorching hot sun. There we found a young woman with her new born baby boy smiling at us and the baby yawning not realizing its horrendous circumstances.  Also we came by an eighty-year-old woman begging for a water cooler.  The young and the old are the most vulnerable under such conditions. One lady asked us if we were fasting because it is Ramadan, the Muslim fasting season but we said ‘no, we are Christians’ and immediately she wanted to make tea for us.  Such hospitality!

Later we took torches to the families as they are out in the ‘desert,’ fearful of snakes and other such creatures stealing in to visit them at night!  They prayed for us all for being with them in their time of need.

As they return to their camps they will be given the three sewing machines, materials with their accessories and fresh vegetables.

Thank you for making it possible for us to reach out to these traumatized people.  Some call this flood a slow Tsunami as one third of the country lies under water and 20,000,000 are displaced.  Our effort is like a drop in the ocean but we will continue to seek out those most in need. May the Lord bless us all in our efforts.

The Columban Sisters are a congregation of missionary religious women. The article was originally published on the Columban Australia region website.

Following is a brief update about the ongoing flood situation;

There is still serious flooding in Sindh, as you probably see from pictures in the news. The good news is that the water level is receding, though it is still very high near Kotri barrage on the opposite side of the river from Hyderabad city.

Hyderabad is out of danger. But further south, waters continue to flood from the river near Thatha. This has flooded the towns of Sajawal which is in Badin parish. Waters have reached to within 50 km of Badin city and at this stage it looks like the city will escape. The government has set up relief camps around Badin city.

Nearby is Jati, a small parish which is administrated from Hyderabad parish. It is where Columban Fr. Robert McCulloch does some of his ministry. Fr. Sabir Sadiq, diocesan priest based in the Cathedral parish in Hyderabad, is from Jati. For the past week, before the flood waters arrived to engulf the town of Jati and the surrounding lands, Fr. Sabir has been helping with the evacuation. The crops and homes of his family and all his Christian and Muslim neighbors have been lost. They did manage to get their animals out. Tragically, when people were evacuating through the flood waters, four young children of one family were drowned when they fell into deep waters. So far their bodies have not been found. Jati people estimate that it will be at least two weeks before they can begin to move back, as the flood waters are expected to linger that long. Most of the Christian community in Jati have evacuated to relatives in Karachi.

Emergency relief and medical help are being provided by many sources. These include the parish team in Kotri parish led by Franciscan Fr. Mohan Victor, St. Mary’s Girl’s High School in Hyderabad ,where both staff and students are helping out, Columban Sisters and their team, Columban Fr. Felisiano Fatu and the Badin parish team, Sr. Rosey Yaqoob, FMCK, in Sukkur parish and the Outreach team from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Hyderabad, where Fr. Robert McCulloch is director.

All of these have received funding that has come in from Columban sources. This relief work will continue for some time. According to the Prime Minister, from the government side of things, this first phase of relief work will continue until the end of October.

That is a brief summary of the present situation. The attached photos are from Fr. Mohan Victor showing the relief work being carried out in Kotri area.

Sincere thanks for your help and support.

Peace,
Columban Fr. Tomas King

“Although the Indus River is at record flood level at Hyderabad in south east Pakistan, the city has so far been saved from flooding. Concern remains about what will happen in the next few days when further flood waters reach from upper Sindh.

“Hyderabad is protected by a 20-mile long levee built between the Jamshoro Barrage, the final dam on the Indus before it reaches its delta on the Arabian Sea, and the Kotri Rail Bridge which crosses the Indus and which is essential for maintaining contact between the sea port city of Karachi and the rest of the country.

“Hyderabad remains on high alert.

Columban Fr. Robert McCulloch

“In the last 3 weeks, the Pakistan Army has taken control of strengthening and maintaining the levees. Yesterday the army officials assured the people of Hyderabad that the city was safe for the present and that the levees could control the floods unless a major surge of flood water occurred. A sense of confidence has returned to the people of Hyderabad. James Francis, administrator of St. Elizabeth Hospital, says that earlier in the week the city had become panic-stricken due to the alarming rise of the water in the river and continual calls over loudspeakers in the many local mosques announcing that Judgment Day had come.

“Unfortunately, the flood tragedy is becoming politicized. The Pakistan Army is not only protecting the levees from the flood damage but has to carry out 24-hour patrols to prevent malicious damage occurring. Four men were arrested carrying explosives on the night of August 14 and charged with intent to weaken the levee. Activists of the two major political parties in Sindh are also patrolling the levee as a political issue and accuse one another of endangering the safety of the city and its people.

“In spite of the nation-wide flood, political parties in Karachi have not stopped their on-going street wars during which an average of 20 political activists are being murdered each day. “Turf” is much more important to them than putting their energy into practical flood relief. Major Muslim sects in Karachi continue their violent campaign of wiping out religious, social, cultural, intellectual and business leaders of opposing sects.

“Anticipating the threat to the hospital building and facilities, St. Elizabeth Hospital has been working full-time to help thousands of impoverished agricultural labourers and their families move away from the river to safety. 3,000 are now living in the open on the main highway and thousands more managed to reach the ridge of barren hills on the other side of the Indus south of Hyderabad. They were able to carry just a little of the few possessions they had.

“Providing them with food, water and medical care are high priorities. Many of these people are scheduled caste Hindus who come at the tail end of official relief programs. The hospital vehicles have been outfitted as mobile ambulances and crammed with medical equipment and medicines to deliver care to these people. While planning the relief work for today with James Francis, hospital administrator, and our senior medical staff, we decided to spend whatever had to be spent and to run up accounts with the medical supply companies.

“Our hospital staff, Christian, Muslim and Hindu, are working together with one heart; no-one talks about time-off or overtime pay. We are pleased that the spirit of compassionate care that we have tried to make the characteristic of our hospital is very much alive as our hospital staff respond to the needs of afflicted people.

“Patients in need of surgical care are being brought by our ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital. Teams of young Catholic male nurses from the hospital have volunteered to stay out with the displaced people. They give medical care and let the people know that they are not forgotten. The immediate need is basic care. Much more will be needed as the danger of further flooding passes, the water recedes, and people return home to nothing.”