Presented by François Prouteau
The coronavirus crisis is raging around the world and reminds us of our human fragility.
More than 50% of the population is experiencing lockdown, but under very different conditions depending on the region. Within countries, conditions are also very different, and some populations were already very precarious beforehand, which doesn't improve their situation, whether here in France or elsewhere.
I have chosen to take you to India this evening. As here, confinement is mandatory for the entire population. In many metropolises like Bombay, the streets are deserted. But I want to take you this evening to southern India, to Rajagopalaperi, southwest of Madras. I have news there of Father Bosco's mission supported by the dhiya association in France, a partner of Fondacio. As here in Angers, France, and in many countries, Father Bosco was alone in his church yesterday for the celebration of Palm Sunday Mass.
Father Bosco and Dhiya's mission reaches an extremely poor community. The children live with their families in 10m² concrete "shelters" without water or furniture. They sleep on the cement screed that covers the floor. In such living conditions, it is difficult for them to stay indoors. The temperature is currently 35°C in the shade, and it will soon rise to 40°C, forcing people to get some fresh air. To respect social distancing, the villagers sit on their doorsteps. In addition, they are forced to go outside to fetch water from the municipal tap or go to public toilets.
Lacking education, they do not fully appreciate the danger of contamination for themselves or their loved ones. To ensure that residents stay away from each other and within their families, public transportation has been suspended: there are no more buses, trains, etc., thus limiting travel.
As is the case everywhere else in the world where lockdowns have been declared, schools are closed for now until April 21. Only grocery stores, banks, and pharmacies remain open. They close every day at 2:30 a.m.
Some food supplies are beginning to run out. People are heading towards greater poverty or hunger.
In his special blessing on March 27, Pope Francis prayed for all the poor who no longer have work. This is the case for the parents of Dhiya's children.
Their situation was already very precarious, it didn't take more than a "grain of sand" or, even smaller, an "invisible virus" to completely destabilize it: Not working means not feeding oneself.
This evening, we are thinking particularly of them there, as well as of all those here in France who are living in extremely precarious conditions, making the burden of the pandemic even more unbearable. We hold them in our hearts and in our prayers.
Since the lockdown, the poorest people in India have lost their meager resources overnight. In this country, millions of people are suffering from hunger due to the health crisis.
The Dhiya and Fondacio associations for France, and ARECT for India, have organized food distributions in Rajagopalaperi, in Tamil Nadu, where they are already providing educational activities to prevent this disaster in the village.
The second distribution took place on May 4, 2020. Watch the video below!
No responses yet