Culiacan, Mexico, Sep 21, 2018 / 17:01 pm
The Mexican bishops' conference called for solidarity Friday with the thousands of people affected by heavy rains and flooding in Sinaloa state, which has been declared in a state of emergency by the authorities.
"In concern for the state of Sinaloa which is suffering from the damage left by the heavy rains over the last hours by the tropical depression19-E and its downpour September 19 and 20, we express our communion, joining in prayer," states the Sept. 21 communiqué.
So far 11 out of Sinaloa's municipios have been affected, as well as several municipalities in neighboring Sonora.
The rains from the tropical depression have caused damage to homes, cars, and farmland, and the evacuation of about 16,000 people.
The bishops' statement indicated that over 32,000 acres of crops have also been seriously damaged in the Carrizo Valley and El Fuerte.
The bishops noted in their statement that "Sinaloa has always been in solidarity with our country in different contingencies and so we ask you to join, with a merciful gesture, a generous spirit and fraternal charity, the special collection in support of our brothers to aid and accompany them now and in the subsequent phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction."
"We are entrusting to our Caritas Mexico the mission of receiving and transferring funds in order to respond to this emergency," the statement says.
"We place our brothers in Sinaloa and Sonora under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe," the communiqué concludes.
This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.