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Holy See, Philippines mark 70 years of diplomatic relations
It was on April 8, 1951 that representatives of the Holy See and the Philippines signed a treaty establishing diplomatic relations.
By Robin Gomes
The Holy See and the Philippines on Thursday marked the 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two states. Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the anniversary was marked by a virtual event and a message by the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Outgoing Philippine ambassador to the Holy See, Grace Relucio-Princesa, reaffirmed her nation’s commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relations. She assured the government’s continued partnership with the Church because “there’s really room for engagement”. “Let the Philippine embassy in the Vatican start this: diplomacy for humanity, diplomacy for the common good, and one of this is migration,” said the 65-year-old diplomat who is retiring.
Caritas joins rescue efforts in Indonesia after cyclone disaster
Devastating floods and landslides triggered by cyclone Seroja, which struck a cluster of islands in south-east Indonesia and in Timor-Leste on Easter Sunday, have killed at least 120 people. Caritas and other agencies have swung into action to reach the survivors.
By Robin Gomes
Caritas Indonesia has joined the government, the United Nations and other agencies in reaching out to the affected people following the disaster caused by a cyclone in the southeast of the nation on Easter Sunday.
Floods and landslides
Rescuers were searching for dozens of people still missing on Tuesday after floods and landslides swept away villages in eastern Indonesia and the neighbouring Catholic-majority nation of Timor-Leste or East Timor. At least 120 have been reported dead in the two countries with thousands displaced.
Indonesian Church calls for compassion for flood victims
The Catholic Church of Indonesia has called on Catholics to show compassion to victims of the devastating flash floods and landslides that hit the country’s predominantly Catholic province of East Nusa Tenggara last weekend.
By Robin Gomes
Days of heavy rain due to the tropical cyclone Seroja tropical, have affected 12 cities and districts in the province on Easter Sunday, killing at least 138 people, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Thursday. About 61 people are reportedly missing, while 271 homes and 99 public facilities were damaged. More than 8,000 people were evacuated to shelters including ones belonging to the Catholic Church.
Myanmar military s offensive against Karen people
More than 20,000 people are hiding in the jungle and in dire need of food, says a humanitarian group.
By Robin Gomes
As news of the brutal crackdown by Myanmar’s security forces against the opponents of the February 1 military coup continues to draw media attention, the military is cranking up its offensive against the insurgent groups, displacing thousands of innocent civilians.
20,000 Karen displaced
More than 20,000 people in Myanmar’s Karen state have been forced to flee their homes as the military has continued its air and ground attacks since late March, according to Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian group that provides help to internally displaced people in the southeast nation, also called Burma. It said, “The newly displaced people are unable to tend their crops or take care of their animals and are surviving on emergency rations they have hidden. But not only do they need food now, this will become a great