East Timor – Flood victims needs shelter-food-medicines

06 April 2021
East Timor – Flood victims needs shelter-food-medicines

(ANS – Dili) – A flash flood caused by torrential rains crippled areas around the capital city of Dili, East Timor, as well as some nearby islands in Eastern Indonesia (NTT), including the island of Flores and the Western part of Timor Island, Indonesia, in the early morning hours (3-5 AM) of Easter Sunday (April 4). To date, reports claim there are some 160+ victims of landslides and houses buried under mud, kilometres of destroyed road, and thousands of displaced people. In Dili, the water in the rivers rise as much as 2-4 meter above the ordinary level.

Although the main rainfall stopped on Monday (April 5), the water-level was still high. Rescue work continues to search and discover missing people and restore the basic roads and streets in the affected area.

The Salesians of Don Bosco (Vice Province of St Callisto Caravario, East Timor - TLS) with the headquarters in Dili-Comoro, one of the centres of this natural disaster, is now sheltering some 3,000 people who fled from their homes due to this calamity in its “Comoro Don Bosco” compound. Some blankets, food and basic medicines were distributed. Also, the archbishop of Dili, Virgilio da Silva, SDB, was present with his words of consolation to the flood refugees.

At the same time, the whole Salesian Family, with the Comoro FMA communities, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA and Don Bosco Past Pupils extend their hands to the victims.

At present, the TLS Vice Province has 11 canonical communities in East Timor, with 3 of them located precisely in the capital of Dili-Comoro district, with the parish of Mary Help of Christians; “Don Bosco Technical Centre”, a TVET centre, with a large oratory; and a post-novitiate community with the Philosophy study centre. Also, the Provincial house is located in the Dili-Comoro venue.

On the other hand, the Salesians of Don Bosco are not yet present in the Eastern Indonesia provinces affected by the flash floods, especially in Flores Island. The only presence is the Don Bosco community of Sumba, apparently without any major damages.

Prayers and any meaningful sign of solidarity is highly appreciated. “We pray for the people of East Timor and Easter Indonesia!” the Salesians say.

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https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/12579-east-timor-flood-victims-needs-shelter-food-medicines#sigProIdadd6a308c4

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