Archdiocese helps re-build lives in the face of grief

CHRISTMAS is a time of rejoicing, but for thousands of families in Cagayan de Oro City, it’s a time of grief, of rebuilding lives and homes.

With thousands of families huddled in evacuation centers, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is faced with the great challenge of helping families re-build their lives and homes after rampaging flash floods destroyed properties and killed many.

In a pastoral letter, Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma expressed solidarity with the victims saying that the tragedy has indeed brought intense sorrow for everyone.

“[But] even as we grieve with those directly affected by this tragedy, the challenge for us now is to help re-build the lives and broken homes of the survivors,” he said, adding that “evacuation centers are slowly being organized in the distribution of relief goods – in particular, water, food, medicine, mats, blankets, etc.”

The archbishop lauded volunteers and organizations who have shared their time, energy and resources to help the victims.

He said social workers and parishes affected by the floods have collaborated with government agencies in running the evacuation centers in the City Central School, West City Central School, Macasandig, Bulua, Kauswagan, Iponan, and others.

The city’s 14 centers have been providing shelter and basic needs to more than 7,000 families and 43,000 individuals.

Ledesma said the longer-term challenge is to help these families re-build their present homes or re-locate to safer grounds.

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino has visited the areas battered by the typhoon and declared a national state of calamity. He also instructed city officials not to allow any family “to return to extremely dangerous areas.”

Ledesma said that almost everyone in the city has lost some relatives or personal friends in the tragedy.

“Schools have lost some students and staff; officemates have not reported because of the condition of their homes; and a number of unidentified bodies still await a dignified burial in a common resting place,” he said.
The sudden rise of flood waters evening of December 16 have caught people unaware. Many lost their lives, either trapped by rising flood waters inside their homes or washed away by rampaging waters.

Floating bodies were retrieved in nearby towns, with many still unaccounted for.

As of Friday morning, death toll from the floods has reach 1,080, based on the data released by the National Disaster Coordinating Council. (CBCPNews)