When torrential rain devastated the Peshawar region of Pakistan in July and August 2010, local priest Fr Tom Rafferty sought help for the people in his care. Fr Rafferty has close connections with the Parish of Ashbourne.
Fr Rafferty has prepared a report, saying thanks for the over € 10,000 which was raised in the Diocese of Meath. Click here to read the report in full.
As you will see, aid packages were given according to people’s needs. The reopening of schools was a priority. St. Joseph’s High School and Presentation Convent High School had been occupied by flood victims and were left in a very bad state of repair. Sr Iris saw to repairs in St. Joseph’s School and the reconstruction in St. Thomas Middle School. When eventually the schools reopened school uniforms, books and satchels were given to the children and again in deep winter they were provided with sweaters, gloves and caps.
Fr Amer’s attention focused on the repair and reconstruction of badly damaged privately owned houses in the area. Also he saw to the replacement of the roof and ceiling, repairs and decoration of the parish church in Nowshera.
By December 2010, Fr Rafferty’s parish was making great efforts to get people out of tents into rented rooms, so that they might have a roof over their heads for the winter. The Apostolic Nunciature supplied a water filtration system installed in the Church compound at Nowshera.
In February 2011, with what funds remained, they started the construction of new houses for those who lived on the banks of the River Kabul that runs through Nowshera. Originally they intended to construct 20 new houses but as time went by the price of building materials began to rise daily so they had to down-size to 16. These houses are two roomed with a verandah, kitchen, bathroom and stairway to the roof. They are built high against flood, with ring beams against earthquake and with strong foundations and walls to take a second storey.
