Caritas-India´s urgent appeal for $1 million in emergency aid for the victims of last Friday´s earthquake will go to help 20,000 families, an official said.
Brother Gregory D´Souza, executive director of Caritas-India, has sent a report to Caritas´ international network, listing the most urgent needs in the state of Gujarat. They are basic foods for 20,000 families (18 million rupees); medicines (5 million rupees); tents (5 million rupees); blankets (4 million rupees); warm clothes (6 million rupees); household goods (5 million rupees); transport of rescue materials (2 million rupees); administration expenses (2% of the total, or 900,000 rupees).
The total expense amounts to some 45.9 million rupees, or about $1 million.
In his report, Brother D´Souza states that the dioceses most affected by the catastrophe are Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Baroda, and that these dioceses have placed their parish buildings and institutions (such as schools, day-care centers, and churches), at the disposition of those affected. These diocese immediately mobilized health personnel and volunteers to respond to the first phase of the emergency.
India´s defense minister said the quake killed as many as 20,000 people, CNN reported today.
