Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, underscored the growing challenges of climate-driven migration during a meeting with Indonesian Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo on Oct. 25.
In his remarks, Dutton emphasized the severe impact of climate change on communities globally and its potential to displace millions of people in the coming decades.
“When talking about climate migration due to more violent climate change, we are faced with a new fact: thousands or even millions of people are potentially affected by this climate change, which today becomes more and more violent, changing our planet into an inconvenient place to live,” Dutton said.
Dutton’s message stressed the urgency of the issue, pointing out that Indonesia, as a nation vulnerable to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, is at heightened risk.
He warned, “But when our planet is no longer convenient to live on and our land is no longer fertile to crop, then a potential huge migration will soon take place.”
The meeting between Dutton and Cardinal Suharyo highlighted the long-standing commitment of Caritas Indonesia, also known as Karina KWI Foundation, to address humanitarian crises.
Cardinal Suharyo shared insights into the organization’s beginnings, recalling the 2006 earthquake in Central Java’s Yogyakarta Region, which left over 5,700 people dead, and tens of thousands injured, and caused an estimated $3.1 billion in financial losses.
“With humanitarian initiatives promoted by scores of our parishes across our diocese, many emergency responses were successfully established by the late Bishop Msgr. Johannes Pujasumarta,” said Cardinal Suharyo, referring to the former general vicar of the Semarang Archdiocese.
These experiences laid the foundation for a more structured Caritas organization in Semarang, known locally as Carina KAS.
“For this good job, our gratitude goes to Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi – the current bishop of Ketapang Diocese in West Kalimantan, who was at the time Semarang Archdiocese’s general vicar,” Cardinal Suharyo added.
The dialogue served as a moment of solidarity for both Caritas Indonesia and Caritas Internationalis, as they continue to enhance their cooperative efforts in disaster mitigation and humanitarian response.
Both Dutton and the Caritas Indonesia leadership, including its President Emeritus Bishop Msgr. Aloysius Sudarso and Executive Director Fr. Freddy Rante Taruk, reiterated their shared mission of compassion and preparedness.
Caritas Indonesia also showcased its recent projects aimed at addressing community health and safety issues.
Bishop Sudarso highlighted a new initiative targeting stunting on Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province, a program which has provided nutritious food packages to over 370 children, mothers, and pregnant women in Weetebula Diocese.
Additionally, Fr. Taruk noted the organization’s active role in developing mitigation strategies to combat human trafficking, which often affects vulnerable migrant workers.
The gathering, attended by Caritas Indonesia’s staff including Rina Bambang, Gatot Sewandono, and Devi Kusuma, reinforced the importance of global partnerships to respond to the multi-faceted challenges posed by climate change and other social issues.
