Pope Francis has expressed his spiritual closeness and solidarity with those affected by the eruption of the La Sourfrière volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Vatican reported. Authorities in the Caribbean island nation have ordered the evacuation of thousands of people to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
The Holy Father’s closeness to the victims of the eruption was expressed in this telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin:
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS SENDS THE ASSURANCE OF HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS TO ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT ERUPTION OF LA SOUFRIÈRE VOLCANO, AND EXPRESSES HIS HEARTFELT SOLIDARITY WITH THE MANY DISPLACED PERSONS FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES AND SEEK SHELTER FROM THE EFFECTS OF THIS DISASTER. PRAYING IN A PARTICULAR WAY FOR THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING RELIEF ASSISTANCE, HIS HOLINESS ENTRUSTS THE PEOPLE OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES TO THE LOVING PROVIDENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN SECRETARY OF STATE
More than 12,700 evacuees are now registered in public shelters and in private homes, close to 20,000 people are expected to be displaced, according to the United Nations, which has issued an appeal for relief funds.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the southern Caribbean, consists of more than 30 islands and cays, nine of which are inhabited.
At 4,000 feet or 1,220 metres tall, La Soufrière dominates the largest island of Saint Vincent. Silent since 1979, the volcano began spewing smoke and rumbling in December, before a full-blown eruption on April 9.
Entire villages have been covered in ash, buildings damaged, schools and businesses closed, crops and livestock destroyed, and residents left with limited access to clean drinking water.
And further eruptions are expected in the coming weeks.
“The level of destruction that has befallen this beautiful country and the widespread disruption caused by this event will forever be etched in my mind. The devastating impact of this event on thousands of people is undeniable”, said UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Carribean, Didier Trebucq.
