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Brothers, friends and benefactors,
we have received some news from our Friars in Pakistan who, in the midst of difficulties brought about by war, are doing everything possible to alleviate the sufferings of tens of thousands of people who have fled Afghanistan.
* Before Christmas, Br. Sebastian, the Minister Provincial, wrote to us:
"Now the war is close to an end. We want to work for the refugees in different phases. But we have to be careful. These days the Government is very cautious and alert in regard to refugees. The camps are isolated from all ordinary establishments. Nobody can just go to visit them.
We are working out how to help them. There are several options, but we must go slowly and steadily, because everybody is looked on with suspicious eyes.
We are planning to work in Quetta, Karachi and Hyderabad. There will be different phases to help the refugees:
The first phase is to provide immediate help, that is, food, clothing, medicine and drinking water. For this phase the formators [the directors and teachers of our friar students], the friar students and some other friars will go to Quetta and join the Caritas Team. They will work there from 21st to 31st December. They will work as Franciscans but under the umbrella of Caritas. This is the best choice we could make since Caritas Pakistan already got permission from the Government to work for the refugees.
The second phase will be long and steady. In this we have to find out their daily needs and help them earn their livelihood. For example, we could give them sewing machines. Women could sew at home (in their camps) for their children, for themselves and for neighbours. They could also learn to knit. These are just examples. When we go to them, we may find many other ways to help them.
The third phase is to educate the children while they are in camps in Pakistan.
I think the terrorists have devoted time and money to create terrorism and now we have it. Maybe we failed to devote time or spend money for peace. We could not give time to youth. We now feel the immediate need to re-organise our activities and give time to them. We also want to educate people for the Promotion of Peace. For this we shall publish literature on peace. The peace Prayer of St. Francis will be printed in the different local languages.
With regard to manpower, I have talked to the Friars, The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary and other members of the Franciscan Family, including the Secular Franciscan Order.
* A little after Christmas, the same Br. Sebastian informed us about the beginning of the first phase of the project:
"Greetings of Peace from Pakistan ... We also had a nice Christmas. Night and day we were busy celebrating the Eucharist. In the evening all the Friars in Karachi came to the Franciscan House to celebrate Christmas. We had singing, sharing of gifts and also a delicious dinner. During the past few weeks I was quite busy visiting the friars, attending many meetings and planning help for the Afghan Refugees. Br. Saleem (novice master), two novices (Eric and Victor) and Brothers Javed and Walfred went to Quetta to help the refugees. We began to work with Caritas and later teamed up with the FMM Sisters. With Caritas we are working on the borders of Afghanistan, while with the FMM Sisters we are working for the non-registered refugees who are scattered about the City of Quetta. The friars celebrated their Christmas with the refugees. They felt like they were helping Jesus who also had to become a refugee and flee to Egypt together with Mary his Mother and Joseph".
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