Over the next few weeks, we will analyse each chapter of the book Faith in Action: A Decade of Compassion and Resilience with CADIS.
This will be an opportunity to delve into each experience recounted directly by CADIS leaders who, over the course of a decade, have seen with their own eyes and touched with their own hands the fragility of the people they assist, in every corner of the earth.
The book is available in English, and soon in Italian, on Amazon in both paperback and ebook formats. CLICK HERE
Chapter Three - Disaster Vulnerability and Resilience in India: Climate Risks, Conflict, and the Camillian Response
Written by Fr. Siby Khaitaran, and Fr. Biju Sebastian K, the chapter analyzes the operational work of the Camillian Task Force (CTF) India, which provides a model for high-impact intervention. The CTF’s history includes expansive relief operations during major earthquakes, floods, and the unprecedented logistical challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. A particularly poignant case study detailed in the chapter is the 2023 intervention in Manipur. Following ethnic violence that displaced over 60,000 people, the CTF moved beyond simple aid to provide a "whole-person" response, combining urgent medical relief with long-term psychosocial support and rehabilitation to address the deep-seated trauma of the conflict.
India’s disaster profile is defined by a "multi-hazard" environment where geographical and climatic risks do not merely exist in isolation but often overlap, creating a compounding effect on the nation's 1.4 billion people. This vulnerability is staggering in its scale: approximately 59% of India’s landmass is prone to earthquakes, while over 12% (roughly 40 million hectares) is subject to river erosion and floods. The narrative of this chapter argues that these natural threats—ranging from cyclones and droughts to landslides—are significantly amplified by human-induced factors. Rapid, often unregulated urbanization and environmental degradation have created a landscape where industrial accidents and climate-driven catastrophes are increasingly frequent.
What Fr. Siby underlined during the webinar presentation, "in response to these challenges, the Camillian Task Force India has been on the front lines. We have developed deep expertise through direct interventions during major floods, earthquakes, and cyclones, as well as navigating complex health crises, most notably our extensive work during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Another aspect mentioned by Fr. Siby is that “Our mission often takes us into heart-wrenching humanitarian crises. In 2023, we intervened during the ethnic violence in Manipur. It wasn't just about providing medical relief and essential supplies; we focused heavily on psychosocial support to help individuals process the trauma of conflict and displacement.”
The conclusion is that India’s path to safety requires a total integration of disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into all future development planning. This shift demands more than just better engineering; it requires a massive investment in early warning systems, the protection of natural ecosystems, and a direct assault on the root causes of vulnerability—specifically poverty and inequality. By fostering a "whole-of-society" approach, the nation can transition from a state of constant recovery to one of sustained, built-in resilience.
To learn more about this CADIS project, order a copy of the book HERE.
All proceeds from sales will support CADIS projects around the world. Thank you!
