(FIDES): As tens of thousands of people in various parts of China grapple with one of the worst floods in decades, the Catholic Church has chipped in to help victims with relief materials. Flooding fuelled by heavy rain and powerful Typhoon Bavi inundated vast areas in various parts of China since July 6.
Since the outbreak of flooding, Catholic charities have rushed aid to victims, including food, water, medicines, and daily essentials such as non-food items.
Various dioceses, particularly Shanghai and Beijing, have sent aid to affected families through Jinde Charities, the Catholic charitable foundation of the Catholic bishops in China, Fides reported on July 20.
Jinde Charities distributed emergency humanitarian aid worth 115,320 yuan [US$17,026] to 318 families in Ezhou, Hubei Province on July 15.
On July 16, in cooperation with the China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Jinde donated 700 packages of oil and 700 sacks of rice to flood-hit people in Donglong Township, Qintang District, Guizhou Province. State broadcaster CCTV reported that at least 46 rivers were flowing above warning levels.
At least 78 people had died as of July 20, dozens were missing, and hundreds of thousands had been displaced in the Guangxi region, Liaoning Province, as well as in central and southern provinces during this year’s summer flood season, which began in May, according to China’s disaster management authorities.
Guangxi alone recorded 39 deaths, and 26 fatalities were directly caused by the partial collapse of the Liulan Reservoir dam, which sent torrents of water surging into downstream areas, according to media reports.
Father Huang Jiande, a parish priest in Guigang city in Guanxi, said that many people, including families in nearby villages, were left without running water and electricity due to the disaster.
