Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc in Mozambique Chai Brady and Hannah Harn
Missionary sisters in Ireland have said they are “very concerned” about members of their religious order in Mozambique after a cyclone devastated the country.
The death toll of the natural disaster has risen to over 750 in three countries in the south of Africa. In Mozambique the fatalities are believed to be about 450, with the president saying it could rise to 1,000. The tropical cyclone reached peak intensity on March 14.
Sr Sheila Callanan, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary (FMM), said there are 80 members of her order operating in the country. The Limerick-based nun added that they have not yet heard from them.
“Of course we are very concerned, but so far we haven’t heard any information, now it would have come from Rome if there had been something serious. I imagine the sisters are helping with the flooding and with the people who are homeless,” she said.
Sr Callanan spent almost 50 years in South Africa, where she worked on the border for 10 years and assisted refugees fleeing the Mozambican civil war.
“It will have an affect [on the sisters] but normally we would be with the people, helping the people, helping the people find a place to stay, offering the shelter of the churches or whatever the church has, helping with food, all of that yes, we would be involved in all of that,” she said.
With aid agencies from around the world responding to the crisis Sr Callanan added: “Maybe for long term the Church is very important because the aid agencies, they will come in now and they will help now, but eventually the aid agencies will go probably and then the long term support will probably come through the churches and organisations like that on the ground.”
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development sent €150,000 to the three countries affected, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malwai, on behalf of Pope Francis.
Sorrow
The Pope expressed his sorrow and closeness to the afflicted populations in his general audience on March 20, entrusting “the many victims and their families to God’s mercy” and implored “comfort and support for those afflicted by this disaster”.
A spokesperson for the FMM’s generalate in Rome confirmed on Monday that the sisters based in Mozambique are currently helping those affected by the crisis.
One of the communities is based in the central Mozambican city of Beira which was hit severely by Cyclone Idai, which has been regarded as one of the most devastating tropical cyclones on record to affect the southern hemisphere.
Some 228,000 displaced people are in camps across the vast flooded area of Mozambique.
Bishop Crean urges support for cyclone relief efforts in Africa
The Bishop of Cloyne has urged people to support Trócaire’s Lenten campaign to bring aid to those affected by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
“Trócaire is responding to this crisis in all three countries,” said Bishop William Crean of Cloyne, who is Chair of Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “The immediate needs are huge, but the long-term implications of this disaster are very worrying.”
“Lent is a time for giving and sacrifice,” Bishop Crean added. “The terrible suffering of our brothers and sisters in southern Africa as a result of Cyclone Idai cries out for a generous response on our part.”