Don Bosco South Asia

9 November 2024

Development Office, Disasters, Livelihood, Social Development,

News written by: Bangalore Correspondent

Once the dust settles, reality kicks in! The aftermath of the July landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, adds untold miseries to the script. Seeing their plight, BREADS Bangalore, in collaboration with Don Bosco College Sulthan Bathery, provided basic household articles and essential commodities to over 70 survivors of the landslides that hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala on November 5 as part of # We4You.

The staff of BREADS visited the people to ascertain their individual needs, identified the exact needs, and procured the items accordingly:

An elderly couple suffering from diabetes needed a refrigerator to store their insulin.
Mohan, his pregnant wife, and a two-year-old child required a fridge to stock milk.
Meena, who lost her father, the sole breadwinner of the family, required a chair and table for study, uniforms, and stationery to continue her paramedical course.
Men and women without mobile phones have difficulty getting Government information and rehabilitation notices, as communicated through WhatsApp messages.

They needed a list of items like kitchen utensils, table fans, iron boxes, induction cookers, etc. BREADS distributed sewing machines to some to make a living for themselves and an eatery.

On November 5, Fr. David Alinkal (Director—SHREYAS) flagged off the movement # We4You at a small gathering in Don Bosco College. The items were then delivered to the various beneficiaries in their houses.

Father George PS, the Executive Director of BREADS, said, “It was saddening to see the life condition of the people. On one hand, they are still coping with the trauma of the disaster, and on the other, they are struggling to make ends meet. They are in a crucial situation where they do not have money to buy basic things. I could see the people's joy when they received items such as refrigerators, televisions, mobile phones, mixer grinders, etc. It was a big surprise for them. Tears trickled as they received the items.”

Father George reiterated that We4You Post-Disaster Relief Material Distribution would continue to help survivors rehabilitate themselves and meet the challenges ahead of them. He emphasised the commitment to supporting the affected communities and fostering resilience. He thanked all the donors, both foreign and local, for their generous solidarity in this mission with the affected people of Wayanad.