Deadly Floods in Chad: Catholic Bishop Emphasizes “God’s presence”, Cautions against Despair

He underscored the need for action, saying, “What should we do as Christians? It’s not enough to question what we can say; we must move towards what we can do.”

“Let us make sure these shelters do not become places of new worries. We must safeguard hygiene to prevent disease and protect the vulnerable from the cold and malaria-carrying mosquitoes,” the Local Ordinary of Pala Diocese said.

He continued, “We are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Opening your hand to give a kilogram of rice, some maize, or a bar of soap can make a huge difference.”

Bishop Tinoudji expressed gratitude to St. Joseph Bongor Parish for organizing relief efforts, noting that their work is “an example of what communities must do during these times of crisis.”

He expressed the need to support local Caritas organizations to ensure a coordinated response to the disaster. “Caritas is our way of putting charity into action. Sadly, in many parishes, Caritas is either inactive or absent. Even our diocesan Caritas is still in its early stages,” he observed. 

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The Catholic Church leader urged communities to take “practical steps in city planning to reduce future risks, particularly in areas prone to flooding.”

“Our engineers must help us design cities that take into account natural water pathways, flood-prone areas, and proper drainage systems” Bishop Tinoudji said, and reiterating his appeal to trust in God’s continued presence among the people said, “Do not be afraid; be strong and keep your trust in the Lord.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.