Churches demand access to help victims in India's Orissa state

Published: 2008-01-07

BHUBANESWAR, India (CNS) -- Churches in India have demanded access to the troubled Kandhamal region to distribute relief and visit the families affected by the recent violence in eastern Orissa state. "We demand that credible national organizations such as the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and (the) National Council of Churches should be permitted to send their team of people to meet with the affected people to express solidarity and provide relief materials for all people, irrespective of caste and creed," said the churches in an appeal. Representatives of various denominations read the appeal at a Jan. 7 news conference at the archbishop's house in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa state. The Kandhamal district is about 210 miles southwest of Bhubaneswar. "The hapless (Christian) victims of violence had to take shelter in forests for many days without proper food and sanitation. As of now, few have turned either to relief camps or to their relatives, but the situation is far from satisfactory," the churches said in the statement.

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