Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 26: Massive floods affected southern coastal region of India, mainly the parts of Karnataka and Kerala due to torrential rainfalls in the past few weeks. Understanding the need of the hour, Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), Central Council of Mangaluru diocese, in collaboration with Canara Organization for Development & Peace (CODP), initiated food relief provisions under the name ‘Mission KA-2019 (Mission Karnataka and Kerala)’ from August 11 to 22, under the guidance of bishop of Mangaluru diocese, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Yuvaspoorthi Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza, director, Fr Ashwin Lohith Cardoza, designate director, Leon Loyd Saldanha Bendur, diocesan youth president, Veena Vas Shaktinagar, diocesan youth general secretary, ICYM Mangaluru diocese, along with the support of all the units and deaneries of the diocese.
Items such as rice, dal, sanitary pads, biscuits, drinking water, cooking oil, clothes, soaps, rain coats and various non-perishable items were donated by generous donors from various catholic parishes of the diocese and were segregated and dispatched according to the requirements of the people to different areas in total of seven trucks to Belgaum, Karwar, Calicut, Wayanad, Dharwad and nearby localities of Beltangady and adjacent areas. It is estimated that items worth more than Rs 75 lac was collected and distributed to various places through genuine sources. More than 100 ICYM youths volunteered selflessly towards this mission at ICYM Youth office, Olivet House, Jeppu. Meanwhile, ICYM Youth members also visited the affected areas and helped in relief work services.
It may be recalled that in the month of August 2018, ICYM Mangaluru diocese had successfully launched a similar humanitarian work under the name ‘Mission K2K: Kudla to Kodagu & Kerala’, supplying relief materials to flood affected areas. ICYM Mangaluru Diocese is hailed by various youth organizations and associations in and around the state for this work. Msgr Maxim L Noronha, vicar general, diocese of Mangaluru paid a visit to ICYM Mangaluru diocesan office, Olivet House, Jeppu and congratulated the youth for initiating ‘Mission KA – 2019’ and the efforts put up by the youth as a sign of humanity.
ICYM Central Council, Mangaluru diocese has made a record, through the service of ICYM youths of the diocese through this mission within the short notice period, and are thankful to all the donors, personnel, truck drivers and those who worked day and night for helping the flood victims in making ‘Mission KA-2019’, a grand success.