DISASTER ALERT - Cyclone Watch in the Bay of Bengal 2013
Caritas Internationalis,on behalf of Caritas Bangladesh, on 13 May 2013 has issued a RED ALERT on Cyclonic Storm Mahasen which is expected to make landfall in either Bangladesh, India or Myanmar between 15 - 17 May 2013. Read more >
Sichuan Earthquake 2013
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Lushan County of Ya'an City in Sichuan province at 8.02am on April 20, 2013. While the epicentre is as deep as 13km, people in Chonqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan Province felt strong tremor. Read more >
Fire at Indonesian Immigrants Community, Sabah (Keningau Diocese)
A fire broke out suddenly at the Indonesia Immigrants community in Simjayan in Nabawan township (Keningau Diocese), Sabah on 10 April 2013. Read more >
Fire at Ban Mae Surin Refugee Camp, Thailand
Ban Mae Surin Refugee Camp is one of the nine refugee camps located along the Thai/Myanmar border. On 22 March 2013 at around 3.30pm, a massive fire occurred and completely engulfed 2 sections of the camp. Read more >
Jakarta Floods 2013
Since 17 Jan 2013, heavy and intense monsoon rains had caused severe floods in Jakarta, Indonesia. 20 people had died and more than 46,000 people were displaced after their homes were damaged by the flood waters. Read more >
Volunteer Opportunity
Want to be a VOLUNTEER? All of us are created in God’s image, yet as individuals each of us is unique. We have special talents and skills that can be utilised to help others in need. Read more >
Iran Earthquake
AUGUST 2012
On Saturday 11 Aug 2012, two strong earthquakes, measuring 6.4 and 6.3 on the Richter Scale, jolted North Western Iran within 11 minutes of each other. Their double tapping destroyed 230 rural villages, killed 306 and injured more than 3,000 people. Many are still listed missing and unaccounted for.
Situation
Besides government agencies responding to the calamity caused by the twin killers, the leading local non-governmental agency, the Red Crescent organization, converted a sports stadium to a temporary shelter for 16,000 victims who have either lost their homes or were afraid to return for fear of another earthquake or aftershocks. It distributed 3,000 tents, blankets and food to the victims.
The Iranian government rejected offers of help from many countries, including the United States of America, Germany, Turkey, Taiwan, Russia and Singapore. It said it could cope with the disaster because they have ample manpower and resources.
Caritas Internationalis has contacted Caritas Iran and will work with them to develop an Emergency Appeal to raise the necessary funding, if required.
