【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2010 年 9 月 1日羅馬慈幼會總部訊】 ─ 在第一次奎達舉行的代禱後，慈幼團體網絡亦展開協助數星期前遭遇水災的巴基斯坦人民的工作。來自都靈的鮑思高福傳組織，來自波恩的 Jugend Dritte Welt，以及其他慈幼會非政府組織，也致力參與以奎達及拉哈爾為基地的援助工作。

展開奎達的救援工作後，慈幼會士亦準備統籌拉哈爾的工作。拉哈爾慈幼會院負責人 Miguel Angel Ruíz 神父說：「我們很多學生來自受災地區。他們的父母深受洪水影響，失去一切。一些倖存者因逃上樹上，等候救援而倖免於難。」他的拯救隊共五十人：包括來自鮑思高中心的老師、導師及青少年。目前，他們在巴基斯坦軍方護衛隊的陪同下，駕駛貨車前往信德省，向災民分發食物及藥品。

奎達目前約有九百五十個家庭，收容在由 Peter Zago 神父領導的團體中。然而需要協助家庭的數目，每日不斷增加。Zago 神父期望向一千五百個家庭提供援助，說：「他們本身及村莊的官員，正協助我們的工作。」

慈幼會士依賴中心青少年的支持，那些青少年正協助那些飽受折磨的同胞，深感焦慮，他們正計劃進行代禱，首階段意向是為提供即時緊急援助，次階段意向則為協助那些家庭重建家園。

慈幼傳教辦公室及非政府組織正進行募捐，為提供食物、食水及維修等具體援助。除了來自都靈的鮑思高傳教團及來自波恩的 Jugend Dritte Welt 外，國際義工關注發展組織亦協助在奎達的工作。他們作出呼籲及推行運動，旨在喚起人們的關注，並向公眾及慈幼會士收集專業意見。

國際機構收到有關在救助行動中受到干擾的報告。鑑於急需食物食水的難民及家庭，數目眾多，沒有護衛的協助，是無法保證分發工作，能在和平氣氛下進行。當地亦繼續受霍亂及其他疫症所帶來的健康問題所威脅。

Pakistan: more is needed!

 (ANS –RMG – Rome, 1 September 2010) – After the first interventions in Quetta, the network of Salesian solidarity has been extended to help the people of Pakistan, suffering from the floods of a few weeks ago. Don Bosco Missions from Turin, Jugend Dritte Welt from Bonn, and other Salesian NGOs are committed to aid projects being coordinated from Quetta and Lahore.

After sending aid to Quetta, Salesians are preparing to coordinate action in Lahore. ‘Many of our students come from the flood zones. Their parents have been seriously affected by the inundation and have lost everything. Some saved themselves by clinging to trees and are awaiting help’, said Fr Miguel Angel Ruíz, in charge of the Salesian house in Lahore. His task force is composed of 50 people: teachers, instructors and young people from the Don Bosco centre. At present, accompanied by security guards from the Pakistan army, they are driving by lorry to the Sindh region to distribute food and medicines to the disaster victims.

At Quetta about 950 families have so far been gathered together by the team led by Fr Peter Zago. But with every day the number of family units needing help is growing. ‘The people themselves and the village officials are helping us in our work’, said Fr Zago who hopes to provide initial help to 1500 families.

The Salesians, relying on the support of young people studying in their centres, who are anxious to help their own people who are suffering so much, are planning a first phase of intervention to face up to the immediate emergency and a second phase to help the families to rebuild their homes.

The Salesian Mission Offices and NGOs are working to raise funds to provide concrete help with food, drinking water and repairs. As well as Don Bosco Missions from Turin and Jugend Dritte Welt from Bonn, the International Development Volunteers (VIS) are supporting the work in Quetta. The appeals and campaigns they are running aim to raise awareness and mobilise public and Salesian opinion.

International agencies have reported disturbances during aid efforts. Given the great numbers of refugees in desperate need of food and water for themselves and their families, it is impossible to guarantee peaceful distribution of aid without support from security officials. There continue to be alarms from health associations over the risk of cholera and other diseases.