More than 580 people are dead and over 1,900 missing after flash floods and mudslides tore along the Nepal-China border, and a U.S. Catholic bishop wants the world to pay attention. Bishop A. Elias Zaidan called for greater humanitarian aid in a statement dated August 27.
The trigger was a glacial collapse in Langtang National Park shortly after 8:30 a.m. on August 26. The U.S. Geological Survey measured it as a 5.2 magnitude event. Debris ran more than 60 miles down the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi Rivers.
Zaidan, of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. “I offer the prayers and solidarity of the Catholic community in the United States for our brothers and sisters impacted by this disaster,” he said. Catholic Relief Services, he added, is “closely monitoring the emergency” and coordinating with Caritas Nepal and local partners.
Raju Pradhan, who coordinates emergency aid for Caritas, described the scene to KNA, the German Catholic news outlet. The destruction, he said, was “almost beyond comprehension,” and in one town alone 400 homes were gone. He warned that more flooding could follow as the rain goes on. Any lasting recovery will cost money that “we don’t have at the moment,” he said.
CRS has opened an emergency fund and takes donations online, by phone and by mail. Zaidan thanked the U.S. government for supporting the agency’s work and the State Department for sending personnel to help. He asked the international community to act “as one family,” with long-term help to rebuild homes, livelihoods and infrastructure, and invoked Mary’s Immaculate Heart to “provide consolation and shelter” to the affected.
Sources
- Catholic Agencies Respond to Nepal Floods, a U.S. Bishop Calls for Greater International Aid
- Catholic agencies respond to Nepal floods, as U.S. bishop calls for greater international aid
- Catholic agencies respond to Nepal floods, as US bishop calls for greater international aid
