austraLasia 1283
Lahore community heads out to join rescue mission on
Pakistan's North West Frontier
“100 boys trained in
D.Bosco can do a lot
of good over here”.
LAHORE: 11th October 2005 -- Further
news from the Don Bosco Technical and Youth Centre in Lahore indicates
that they are readying themselves for immediate direct involvement in
the rescue mission in the North West Frontier region of Pakistan where
tens of thousands of people are dead following the weekend's massive
earhtquake, and where hundreds of thousands are struggling for
survival. Fr Miguel Angel writes: "As you can read
here, I am leaving on a rescue mission, to prepare the logistics for
our students. All help is needed in the North now! It is time to move
the boys for the sake of the local people who need as much help as
possible. I am just informing you that we are going to purchase as much
as possible of needed items and then
form a convoy with the material sent to the North by the Sisters of
Jesus and Mary". He is doing this with the direct support by way
of materiel.
Our correspondent points out that
the situation in Islamabad
is chaotic: "robbing, pillaging... is now happening everywhere. Beyond Islamabad
the military are not permitting any help unless escorted by
military personnel, due again to the bandits. We are moving tomorrow to
the city of Sialkot with
the bus, the pick-up and 2 trucks. We will not be allowed even to go as
far as the city of Murray.
Again, the access to the affected
areas is cut off from any help except through the military or with
their permission. Now there is a Distribution
Center
there with an official NGO moving into the affected areas with their
own people only. At least, since the distribution is being
monitored by the Sisters, we are sure our goods will reach those most
in need within hours. We are asked to send powdered milk, local oil
(called lagi), socks and blankets. There is cold rain coming according
to the forecast...".
Fr Miguel
explains that he asked for volunteers from amongst the boys, to help
with the rescue work, and received 100 immediate responses. The
Military commander has given permission for an advance group, with Fr
Miguel in charge, to move ahead with 2 welding instructors, to prepare
the logistics for the rescue party. The army's resposne to their
request was: “100 boys trained in D.Bosco can do a lot
of good over here”. In addition to food and clothing items, the
army have requested that the group bring as many 'cafans' with them as
possible - white shrouds for burying the dead.
VOCABULARY:
materiel: note, not 'material'.
Materiel refers to the whole collection of equipment, etc.
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