Church Responds To Victims Affected By Tidal Waves
Apr 14, 2005
The Church in Thailand has appealed for assistance to help poor fishing communities and others affected by tidal waves that killed hundreds of people along southern coastline.
BANKGOK (UCAN, 28th December 2004) -- Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu of Bangkok, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand, in his announcement Dec. 27 asked Catholics in the country to give financial and material supports to victims of tsunamis.
The tsunamis, a term in Japanese for a series of waves generated by underwater seismic disturbances, were caused by a powerful earthquake erupted on Dec. 26 underwater off Sumatra, Indonesia, sending walls of water thousands of kilometers, killing some 12,000 people in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka, with thousands more are still missing or unreachable.
Government media said the waves along the western provinces of Satun, Trang, Krabi, Phuket, Phangnga and Ranong, killed at least 430 people, injuring more than 4,000. It has no number of people missing or unaccountable for.
Cardinal Michai told UCA News that the conference will also organize a prayer service for the victims of this tragedy in the future.
Father Phibul Visitnonthachai, director of the Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR), said his office under the bishops’ conference will coordinate the massive assistance on behalf of the Thai Catholic Church. His office will spearhead this assistance campaign.
He told UCA News Dec. 27 his agency will specially focus on the emergency relief for poor fisherfolk who were very much affected by tsunamis.
Father Phibul said he requested Stigmatine Father Suebsak Kluimai Na Ayudhya, who represents COERR in Surat Thani diocese, to make an initial survey of fisherfolk of small boats in every province so his agency can begin to respond to “these suffering poor people.”
He said food, clothing and an initial fund of 100,000 baht (US$2,500) are needed for emergency relief. He added that substantial funds will be needed later for relief assistance and rehabilitation after the information of damages to families is available.
He said an initial report he received from Ranong, where Father Suebsak is stationed, says at Suksamran village, 1,300 homes were swept into the sea, killing 27 people, and in Muangpluang village, 500 homes were destroyed. He said schools and health and social service places were also destroyed.
Father Manop Phongla-eead, parish priest Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Ranong, told UCA News that a parishioner told him that six of his relatives at Suksamran were swept away by the killer waves.
He said reports from other provinces are sketchy, but he said his agency will focus more on poor villages like in Ranong where they do not receive much attention from media such as popular beaches and resorts in Phuket.
Salesian Bishop Prathan Sridanusil of Surat Thani said Church personnel gave him the reports that none of them are harmed. He added the tragedy happened in the time where most priests were preparing for Mass for the feast of the Holy Family. He told UCA News that most mission churches and schools are not damaged, or the damages are nothing as compared to the loss of lives.
He said “Church workers have admirably responded to the emergency situation in each local church in such a circumstance.” He added that he is ready to leave Hua Hin, 240 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, and is on his way to visit all the affected provinces to survey damages for Church responses.
Sister Rosa Suphathongamphai of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary said the members of her community that run schools in Phuket went out to retrieve people escaping from the waters, and those who were injured.
Stigmatine Father Pipat Rungruangkanokkul, provincial of the congregation whose work is mainly in southern Thailand, told UCA News Dec. 27 his confrere who was scheduled to say Mass in Patong and Bangthao Beaches around the Phuket island could not enter as the beaches were cordoned off by officials.
Father Suebsak told UCA News Dec. 27 that the chapel in Patong was completely destroyed.
Father Pipat said at St. Agnes Church in Krabi, about 700 meters from Nopharat Thara beach, Stigmatine Father Pornchai Techapitaktham, the parish priest, was ready for Mass as Catholics had begun to arrive when the waves started crashing in. He said Father Pornchai along with some strong adults went to retrieve old and sick people who were at home.
Bishop Prathan said Father Pornchai beside setting up an emergency shelter for affected villagers on the church area, he also worked with local Buddhist temples in taking care of the dead.
Father Pipat said the parish priest and parishioners saw many homes of Catholics were damaged, but their task was to get old people to safety.
He said as his confreres are coordinating with Father Phibul to give support to the people affected in Ranong, Trang and Phangnga.
COERR, founded in 1978 by the late Father John Baptist Bunlert Tharachatr, provides emergency relief to refugees from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, as well as to Thai people in border areas affected by war
Church Responds To Victims Affected By Tidal Waves