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Target: £15,000.00
Raised so far: £12,330.00
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My story

 

Letter from Fathers Maxim and Eric

 Pannur is facing one of its worst disasters due to floods in the last forty years. Intermittent rains over the last four days have resulted in floods bringing the waters to fifteen feet in the church campus practically drowning the church. The surrounding houses have been damaged beyond repair and some of them have totally collapsed. In all two hundred and twelve houses in Pannur have been heavily damaged and people are mostly on the road side and camped in our dispensary at a higher level.  The worst experience when you are surrounded by water is the danger of snakes. Already five persons have been bitten by cobras and one person is in a serious condition.

The waters of the floods rose at night with a higher intensity causing panic all round, and people rushed out carrying whatever they could to a less dangerous area. In the bargain they had to surrender most of their possessions to the ravaging floods.  The plight of women and children is extremely pathetic. As they have no change of clothing and much less food for their hunger.  One woman gave birth to a child in this tense situation.  Luckily a small corner of the dispensary was provided for her.  

Over the last two days the approach to Pannur was totally impossible as it was cut off from the rest of the world.   No electricity, no drinking water, no food and no proper shelter to our people.

Till today no government agency has approached or worked out any programme of relief. Just yesterday morning we managed to reach Pannur by walking three kilometres on foot and whatever relief we brought had to be carried on our shoulders to reach the same to the people. Fr. Ambrose D’Souza the Parish Priest of Pannur Parish was in a helpless situation as he could not get out of his house, as the water had reached above ten feet at the   house.  People surrounding the Church area had run away to save themselves and their families. Fr. Ambrose could come out only after 2 and a half days as the waters receded.

Our nearest neighbour Hulugucnhi village is entirely under water. All fifty five houses   are submerged in water. People have run away to the upper level with their children and are starving.  Since the flood water surrounded them at night they had just to save themselves leaving everything behind. They lost their cattle. Three men in this village are missing. The plight of women again is very painful without privacy and change of clothing.

Other villagers like Ramathnal, Chitralli, Gonavara, Yadiwala, Hedignal, Yeddoldoddi, Chikalparvi, Iynoor, Pul Parmesh Dinni, are under water as they are at the river bank.

The Government in Karnataka is busy rescuing the Swamiji (religious teachers) leaving the thousands of poor hungry and dying.  No food, no water, no clothes, no  medicine has reached these villages, while Rs. 10 crores (one crore is equivalent to ten million) have been promised to repair Mantralya Temple  at this  critical situation of poor peoples’ needs.

All these villages are mostly Dalit villages. Generally this is the plight of Dalits in their struggle of survival.  The Government thinks or wants to give the impression that nothing serious has taken place in these villages. It has not stepped into these villages to assess the loss to lives and property.

We need food, clothes and medicine for these suffering people. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Do come to the rescue of our people especially our women and children. All our volunteers are in these villages helping these people with the little service they can render. Some of our own children have also joined the team.

Fr. Eric has come with his team and is camping in Pannur to give people some hope and support. Our teachers have donated their own salaries and other items and are camping in these villages.

We are hoping that you would be close to our people with your sympathy and support.

Whatever contribution you give for this cause will be gratefully accepted and   distributed to the people directly. At the moment the items listed below are urgently needed.

Soap

20p

Washing powder for washing clothes

20p

Langi (male clothing)

£1

Sari (female clothing)

£2

A mat for sleeping on

£2

A bed sheet

£2

A blanket

£3

A tent for a family to sleep under

£7

 

From Seb and Aryan Colana Donation by Rachel Lawrence 16/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by anonymous 05/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

With love from Holy Trinity Church Donation by Margaret Lawrence 03/11/09  

£120.00 + £33.85 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 31/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by anonymous 26/10/09  

£20.00

What wonderful work you do! Donation by Frances Caullay 21/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 21/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by anonymous 20/10/09  

£500.00 + £141.03 Gift Aid

We uphold you with our prayers and pray that the Lord will continue to bless and stregthen you in Jesus name Donation by Toyin Britto 20/10/09  

£25.00

Donation by Katrina Hanniffy 19/10/09  

I wish you all the best in this difficult time. Donation by Surya Bajracharya 19/10/09  

£20.00

Donation by Anon 18/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation by MICHAEL HOGAN 18/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Sean Doherty 18/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Siobhan Burke 17/10/09  

£100.00

Keep up the Good work Donation by Sudarshan Sathianathan 17/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation by Yvonne 16/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

PRAYERS FOR ALL THIS SITUATION - BLESS FR NORMAN FOR SUCH A CARING DAUGHTER RACHEL Donation by Geoff Harwood 16/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Sylvia Irons 16/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Peter Simmons 15/10/09  

Keep up the great work you are doing there Rach, you are in our thoughts and prayers, God bless x Donation by Tim Evans 15/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Money raised at a Stonyhurst Association convivium at Farm Street, 14 October: with love, prayers and many good wishes. Donation by Anthony Eyre 15/10/09  

£310.00 + £87.44 Gift Aid

Rachel - I bet everyone out there loves you already, will keep reading your blog and well done to you and everyone out there on your work. x Donation by Luke Gary Mcfarlane 15/10/09  

Donation by ann williams 13/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

May God multiply this amount and enable you to help many people. God bless you. Donation by David 13/10/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

With Love from Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow Donation by Maggie Lawrence 13/10/09  

£285.00 + £80.38 Gift Aid

It's wonderful that you are doing this. Donation by Marc Sikkes 13/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Zyg 12/10/09  

Take care of yourself. Best wishes! Donation by Zoe Vail 12/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Trust this helps. Donation by Anna Gorniak 12/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £6,375.00
  Offline donations: £5,955.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £1,589.36

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