PANJIM: Caritas-India, the social service arm of the Catholic Church in the country, pulled out all stops amid a slew of blockades to provide immediate relief to the thousands of people displaced by the unprecedented strife in Manipur that broke out in May this year. Apart from food kits and shelter-NFI kits, it also provided ‘dignity kits’ to cater to the hygiene and personal well-being of women and adolescent girls through its partner organisations in Imphal and Silchar.
On its part, Caritas-Goa sent, as an immediate response, Rs 20 lakh to the archdiocese of Imphal for relief of internally displaced people in 300 different camps.
The main focus of this intervention was to assist people of both the Meitei and Kuki communities residing in relief camps. It ensured that individuals directly impacted by violence, irrespective of their ethnic background, receive the required assistance. In addition, protection concerns were addressed in Manipur and Mizoram through medical camps, health referrals and distribution of special food kits.
The Church in Goa also offered aid by way of monetary assistance after Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao issued a circular to all parishes appealing for financial aid to people suffering in Manipur. The archdiocese consequently sent Rs 45 lakh - all of which was collected from generous donors and parishes across the state - to the archdiocese of Imphal. Contributions from people in Goa continue to be received by Caritas-Goa and the archdiocese, all of which will be sent as assistance to Manipur.