Caritas India honors Kashmir youth for work during floods

The Muslim youth dedicated the award to hundreds of people who benefited from his efforts.

N Delhi (UCAN) 

On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day today, Caritas India honored an aid worker for his selfless service during the 2014 floods in the Kashmir valley. 

Altaf Hussain Lone, who is based in Srinagar, was given a memento along with a cash reward of 10,000 rupees by Fr. Frederick D’Souza, executive director of Caritas India at a function held in New Delhi.

“As a humanitarian agency, Caritas has touched so many lives and it would not have been possible without a dedicated team of brave and selfless aid workers whose spirit we proudly salute today,” Fr. D’Souza said.

Lone beat two other contenders who volunteered during 2014 Cyclone Phailin and 2013 Uttarakhand floods to bag the award.

He came in contact with Caritas India for the first time during the floods.

“After seeing the pain and suffering of the people, I was feeling helpless and did not know how to help them. Caritas India provided me the platform where I can reach out to the people and help them with immediate relief,” Lone told ucanews.com.

The Muslim youth dedicated the award to hundreds of people who benefited from his efforts.

“This award is for all those whom I can help. The satisfaction I see on their faces makes my day,” he added.

Lone said “serving people is my mission now. I feel content when people see hope in me.”

Srinagar — home to the summer capital — and South Kashmir were the worst hit in the September 6, 2014 floods triggered by torrential rains causing the Jhelum River to burst its banks.

Nearly 300 people died and 60 million were left stranded by three-meter-high water. An estimated 80,000 people had to be rescued by teams from the Indian army, air force and National Disaster Response Force.

According to data released by the Indian Home Ministry, 390 villages were fully submerged in the water.

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