LJUBLJANA (OSV News): Catholics in Slovenia are rallying emergency aid and turning to prayer as record floods ravaged the nation, killing at least six and leaving hundreds homeless. Heavy rains and flash floods over the past several days have inflicted “the worst national disaster in Slovenia’s [recent] history,” affecting “two-thirds of the country,” said prime minister, Robert Golob, at an August 5 national security meeting.
Slovenia’s Catholic bishops said the entire nation “is experiencing hardship due to flooded fields, destroyed crops, growing torrential rains,” according to a statement shared by Radio Ognjišce, a Catholic radio station in Slovenia, on its website.
Slovenia’s weather service reported downpours totaling a month’s worth of rain in less than a day.
Along with the floods, “numerous landslides” are also impacting residents, according to Slovenska Karitas [Caritas Slovenia].
The storms have “calmed down,” but “the devastation left by the water remains,” said Peter Tomažic, secretary general of Slovenska Karitas.
…the entire nation ‘is experiencing hardship due to flooded fields, destroyed crops, growing torrential rains…
Bishops of Slovenia
Golob estimated the property damage, which includes roads, bridges and energy infrastructure, at some US$550 million [$4.2 billion].
NATO and the European Union began sending aid on August 7, and Ukraine offered support even as it battles Russia.
The Slovenian bishops said that “the call for prayer and consolation resonates” throughout the nation, as many “are still trembling for the lives of their loved ones and for their own survival.”
They expressed “closeness to those affected” and promised both “prayers and material support.”
The bishops said, “We especially encourage priests to revive devotions in their communities that raise before God our requests for the grace of averting the dire hour,” recommending the inclusion of prayers during Mass “to avert the storm” as well as the recitation of litanies for that purpose.
The bishops asked the faithful “to show solidarity” by supporting Slovenska Karitas.
Tomažic said more than 430 Slovenska Karitas volunteers have helped provide water, food, clothes and accommodation for almost 5,400 affected individuals. The volunteers, including some 250 youth and young adults, have also been rolling up their sleeves to clean flood-damaged residences, he said.
Tomažic said “particularly touching are the messages of sympathy” from Caritas agencies his own organization has previously aided, among them Caritas members in South Sudan, Rwanda and Kenya.
Tomažic said more than 430 Slovenska Karitas volunteers have helped provide water, food, clothes and accommodation for almost 5,400 affected individuals. The volunteers, including some 250 youth and young adults, have also been rolling up their sleeves to clean flood-damaged residences
Tomažic said that fellow Caritas organisations have contributed to those efforts, with Caritas Croatia and Caritas Austria sending a combined total of 31 machines to aid in drying flood-soaked residences. Caritas in Germany and Italy, nations that have also experienced recent floods, have offered drying machines, generators and water pumps, as has Caritas Poland. Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina and Catholic Relief Services in the US.
Tomažic said companies such as consumer goods retailers, Mercator and Hofer, teamed up with his agency to collect critical items for flood victims, especially shelf-stable foods, personal hygiene and cleaning products, diapers and shovels.
In an online update, Slovenska Karitas said that, so far, it has received “more than 175 requests from households for help in rebuilding homes and buildings that were damaged in the recent storms.”
The agency said along with the floods, “numerous landslides” are also impacting residents, adding that “the weather forecasts are still not favourable and may affect an even greater number of households in other parts of Slovenia as well.”
Slovenska Karitas staffer Terezija Vivod, located in the village of Prevalje, said she and her team were sheltering flood evacuees in the local parish gym.
“[Slovenska Karitas] volunteers and colleagues provided them with clothes, food, and water. We will also prepare a hot meal for them. People’s gratitude is immeasurable,” she said.
“We are invited to stand together, connect in solidarity, stand up concretely for all the vulnerable and for all those who are in fear due to physical dangers,” said the bishops. “Above all, let’s rekindle faith and trust in God’s closeness and help.”
