According to the latest estimates, there are more than 41 thousand victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. A death toll that is unfortunately destined to increase, a huge and immense human tragedy in the face of which, from the very first hours, countless solidarity initiatives have started all over the world.
The National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), regularly committed to supporting the mission territories, in the face of an emergency of these proportions and accepting the appeals of Pope Francis to support the populations with prayer and concrete actions affected by the earthquake, have immediately launched an ad hoc fundraising campaign.
The proceeds of the collection carried out by the National Directions of the PMS will be managed through Archbishop Emilio Nappa, President of PMS, in coordination with of the PMS Directions of Turkey and Syria, who are aware of the needs and urgencies of the local Churches.
"My message is an invitation to prayer and generosity, not only now, but also afterwards - said Father Father Adrian E. Loza, OFM, Director of the PMS in Turkey, in a note released by the National Direction of the PMS-Australia. "After the first moments", adds Father Adrian "the second and third phases will start. From mourning to reconstruction. We will have to rebuild and repair many buildings and churches to serve the people, as well as help people move forward".
The Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States, Switzerland, France, Spain, Malta and Australia were among the first National Directions to launch the appeal in favor of the populations of Turkey and Syria, on social networks.
"The situation in Aleppo today is catastrophic, we are surrounded by chaos and desolation", explains Monsignor Mounir Saccal, National Director of PMS in Syria and Vicar General of the Syro-Catholic Church in Aleppo, in a statement released by the PMS of Spain. "Today – Monsignor Mounir adds – we bury our dead, and we understand the extent of this disaster, realizing that we are unable to meet the economic needs to repair the damage on our own. Help us so that our Christian faithful who have remained continue to stay here, to preserve ‘the cradle’ of Christianity. And pray, pray that we have the strength to give comfort to our people, so that they can find faith and hope for better days".

(From Agenzia Fides, 13/2/2023)

Beirut, the bride of the East, Beirut, the lighthouse of the West, is wounded". It is a "devastated city", reduced to "a scenario of war without war". Thus begins the appeal launched by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai "to the States of the world", after the "mysterious explosion" (this is the emblematic expression chosen by the Patriarch himself) which took place on Tuesday 4 August in the port of the Lebanese capital, with a provisional toll of more than one hundred dead and thousands injured.
The devastating event - repeated the Lebanese Cardinal - disemboweled the city, spreading death and devastation, destroying hospitals, houses, churches and mosques, hotels and shops. And this - the Patriarch urges - occurs just as the Lebanese State "is in a situation of economic and financial bankruptcy which renders it unable to face this catastrophe", with the people reduced "in conditions of poverty and misery".
The Church - reports the Cardinal - has set up a rescue network throughout the Lebanese territory, but the emergency is such that every effort made by the national community is unequal with respect to the catastrophe that has hit the Country. For this reason, on behalf of the Church in Lebanon, Patriarch Rai thanks in advance "all the States that have expressed their willingness to help Beirut", and addresses "all the friend and brother States", and in particular to the great Powers and to the United Nations, asking everyone for immediate help for the salvation of Beirut, regardless of any political and geopolitical consideration and calculation, "because what happened goes beyond politics and goes beyond conflicts". Lebanon, bent in recent years by a sequence of political, financial, economic and national security catastrophes - adds the Maronite Patriarch - now "deserves the support of its brothers and friends, necessary to put its capital back on its feet". According to Patriarch Rai, the most appropriate way to deal with the state of emergency is to set up a "United Nations-controlled fund" to manage aid. "I address you" concluded the Patriarch, "because I know that you love Lebanon and that you will respond to this appeal. I turn to you because I know how much you care that Lebanon regains its historical role at the service of man, democracy and peace in the Middle East and in the world".

At the time of the explosion, which devastated Beirut on the afternoon of Tuesday 4 August, the Lebanese, exhausted by the economic crisis and the COVID emergency that had returned to paralyze the Country in the last few days, immediately rushed to help their compatriots: doctors and health personnel have opened hospitals and clinics to the many injured, hotel owners have made their facilities available to welcome the displaced people who have fled their destroyed homes. Convents, monasteries, churches and mosques have done the same. The offices of Caritas Lebanon were also devastated by the explosion.
"This painful tragedy", reads a statement issued late in the afternoon by the political office of the Shiite Hezbollah Party "and its social, economic, humanitarian and health repercussions" urge all Lebanese, from political forces and all the actors of the Country, to be united in order to overcome this difficult trial". (PR/GV)

(From Agenzia Fides, 5/8/2020)

The foreign debt that Sub-Saharan African Countries have accumulated over the past few years is an unresolved issue. After the great abolitionist campaign, promoted on the occasion of the Great Jubilee of 2000, there is still a situation of emergency, which could have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of people.
The Catholic world is weaving a wide network of diplomatic and international alliances starting from Italy so as to prevent that the debt of structurally poor countries or which have been further impoverished by these years of economic crisis, become an unsustainable huge weight for populations, and also to curb development, to limit the freedom of nations, to determine violations of fundamental human rights.

(From Agenzia Fides)

The area most affected by recent Hurricane Irma regards the northern islands of the Antilles (see Fides 20/9/2017). The most affected and damaged dioceses are Saint John's-Basseterre, which includes the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, the northern part of the diocese of Basse-Terre (et Pointe- à-Pitre), the northern part of the diocese of Willemstad (St. Martin Island), the Turks and Caicos sui iuris Mission, the Archdiocese of Nassau (Bahamas Islands).
"Yesterday afternoon I spoke to Mgr. Llanos, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Saint John's-Basseterre over the phone, and this morning we spoke with Vicar General, Fr. Pierre Tevi-Benissan", said to Fides Fr. J. Kaboré, Chargé d'Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature of Port of Spain.
"Bishop Llanos went to the affected islands for about a week, in particular in Tortola, Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, almost completely devastated, and shared daily life with the locals. Churches and parish houses are severely damaged. Mgr. Llanos asked that Sunday's collection is to be offered to help the hurricane victims. In the meantime two large containers with basic necessities, food, medicines, etc. have arrived from Trinidad, and other five small ones destined for Tortola and Anguilla were sent by Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis. The population is trying to survive, not only material and economic aid are needed, but also counseling, moral and spiritual encouragement, and it is for this reason that Mgr. Llanos, after having been there, has decided to send another priest to Tortola to give courage and hope. Even Father Pierre Tevi-Benissan said that he will soon be on the island", said Father Kaboré.
"On 2 October, Mgr. Jason Gordon, Bishop of Barbados and vice-President of AEC, was here in our Nunciature in Port of Spain", continues Father Kaboré. "The AEC (Antilles Episcopal Conference) is very active and is moving in particular towards Dominica which has been severly devastated after hurricane Maria and where containers from Trinidad have already arrived. Moreover, Mgr. Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, Dominica, and President of the AEC, sent a short video in which one can see the devastation of the island, and the help of the entire international community is needed. A report on damaged ecclesiastical structures (as well as in the diocese of St John's Basseterre) is also being implemented. In Trinidad Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, has appealed for solidarity in favor of Dominica, and has also asked - despite conflicting opinions - to soften immigration policy and welcome those from Dominica seeking better living conditions in Trinidad and Tobago".
"Today's local newspapers - continues Father Kaboré - have widely reported the support of Archbishop Joseph Harris for a welcome policy. Mgr.Harris also addresses the people of Trinidad and Tobago inviting them to 'open the doors to Dominicans'. The Archbishop recalled that "if God is one in Three", "then we must know that Trinitarian Love cannot be for a few, but embraces everyone, especially all those who need help, such as the Dominicans in this particular moment. (JK/AP)

(From Agenzia Fides, 6/10/2017)

A week has passed since the tremendous 7 September earth quake in Mexico epicentre area of Pijijiapan, in Chiapas, followed by 634 after-quakes, which left thousands of families homeless and causing vast damage to people, infrastructure and communities.
The local Catholic church swung immediately into action through Caritas Mexico, providing aid and assistance to the most affected areas and, at the regional and national levels, coordinating collection of food and medicine, prime necessities and mobilisation of volunteers for distribution of supplies.
Rev Rogelio Narvaez, executive secretary of both Caritas Mexico and the Mexican Catholic Bishops’ Conference for Social Pastoral Care, reported to Fides, that the worst hit areas are Minatitlan (Veracruz), Oaxaca and Chiapas. Despite various degrees of damage to infrastructures, most parish rooms, halls and chapels are offering shelter, assistance and aid distribution.
According to Bishop Alfonso Miranda Guardiola, auxiliary of Monterrey and secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Mexico (CEM), it is impossible as yet to provide precise assessment of damages, but at least 122 church buildings are reported to have suffered damages and of these 90 have been closed for safety measures.
Mons. Miranda tells of tragic reports from bishops in the areas of Tehuantepec, Tapachula, Antequera-Oaxaca and Mixes prelature, where at least 20 villages are still totally isolated. In the meantime aid is pouring in from Catholic aid organisations worldwide in particular from Germany, Norway, Spain, France and South Korea.
The 8.2 magnitude quake that struck the southern Mexico coast in the evening of 7 September, left at least 90 casualties: 71 in Oaxaca State, 15 in Chiapas and 4 in Tabasco.

(Agenzia Fides 15/09/2017)

Hurricane Irma, category 5, hits the US territory of Puerto Rico. The island has been watching its economy decline for years, has $74 billion in debt and suffers from cuts to emergency services.
Eric LeCompte, executive director of the Jubilee USA Religious Development Network, sent to Fides the following statement: "We are concerned with how the debt crisis ‎affects Puerto Rico's ability to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Irma. Before Hurricane Irma, we saw cuts to social and emergency services. We are praying for all in the path of this hurricane".
From the latest news we learn that a large part of Puerto Rico is without power due to the gusts of wind and heavy rainfall that are hitting the area. There are more than 50,000 homes without water and hospitals continue to function only through emergency generators.
The island's population remembers that since 1928 there has been no such devastating catastrophic phenomenon: in the past hurricane San Felipe caused 2,700 deaths; in 1989 hurricane Hugo killed dozens of people but Irma's force does not tend to diminish. The biggest damages have been registered in Barbuda, where 90% of houses have been destroyed.

(From Agenzia Fides, 07/09/2017)

Mobilization of the Catholic Church in West Africa to help the population of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, affected by the tragedy that occurred in the night between 13 and 14 August, when a mudslide struck the village of Regent (see Fides 21/8/2017). According to the latest toll, the victims are more than a thousand.
"This is another tragedy for a Country that has yet to recover from the disaster of the Ebola epidemic", said Fr. Chukwuyenum Afiawari, at the head of the northwestern Jesuit province of Africa (whose territory includes Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia), who has launched a fundraiser to start the long-term reconstruction of the devastated areas.
"In responding to immediate needs, we must also keep an eye on and begin planning long-term reconstruction efforts", said Fr. Chukwuyenum Afiawari. "We appeal to all of our Jesuit confreres, communities, and institutions of our entire society, our mission-collaborators, friends and benefactors, and all people of good will so they join this noble cause while we work to bring emergency relief", said Fr. Afiawari.
Don Alphonse Seck, coordinator of Caritas groups in West Africa, stressed that "the Caritas of all fifteen member states have confirmed that they will help support Sierra Leone's authorities" to tackle the consequences of the disaster. (L

(From Agenzia Fides, 29/8/2017)

Presentations on the streets, online videos, posters, bars of soap: are some of the local initiatives that have been done to help people fight against infection and raise awareness about the rapid spread of cholera in Sudan. Without any support from the Sudanese government in Khartoum, a number of local and civil voluntary initiatives have been active in the fight against cholera. The disease has claimed 940 lives since cholera cases emerged in Blue Nile state in August last year, according to the National Epidemiological Corporation. The campaigners are known to provide information to residents about prevention and local treatment services. Doctors joined some of the initiatives and treat affected people in their homes or transfer them to isolation wards, set-up by hospitals or health centres. The groups create leaflets and videos that explain the diagnosis of the disease, and methods to prepare perfusion solutions at home in order to increase prevention methods.
In several states the Home-to-Home programme helped to identify the extent of the cholera spread, by campaigners visiting residents at home, and identify ways to deal with it. Soon after, medicines, intravenous fluids and salts were provided to people, as well as soap, disinfectants and detergents in hospitals. The field teams also go to mosques, public meetings, markets, on public transport, to provide information on how to avoid cholera and how to deal with people who are infected.

(From Agenzia Fides, 19/7/2017)

Cases of cholera in Khartoum and White Nile States continue to increase. In the Khartoum Bahri areas, the Ministry of Health registered 30 new cases, while local sources confirm at least one hundred. Hospitals cannot contain the number of infected patients who are often forced to share beds. Last weekend, doctors in the capital of Sudan reported 120 new cases. First in the eastern area, then in the north, El Gezira, and also White Nile State, where it has spread rapidly. Patients are also beginning to fill the hospitals in North Kordofan. According to estimates by the Ministry of Local Health, from August 2016 to May 2017, 14,659 people were infected with 'acute diarrhea' and 292 deaths were recorded.

(From Agenzia Fides, 7/6/2017)

As a result of the floods that led to the overflow of the River Uruguay, there are currently 3,700 displaced persons in the north of the Country. The most hit department continues to be Salto, with 1,993 homeless people. Hundreds of thousands of displaced are registered in Paysandú and Artigas. Families are receiving assistance both from a health and food point of view, from local administrations and from the National System for Emergencies.

(From Agenzia Fides)

There is a cholera emergency in Yemen. The pandemic is spreading throughout the Country. According to data from the United Nations Children's Organization, a third of registered cases concern children. Local authorities report 11,000 suspected cases and 250 infected patients. Over the last three weeks, approximately 130 people have died in several provinces of the nation, the same figure recorded in 2016. Between April 27 and May 16, Unicef identified possible suspects of cholera in the provinces of Saná, Dhalea, Ibb, Taiz, Dhamar, Hajjah, Bayda, Amanat, Asima and Hudaydah.
Moreover, about 2.2 million children suffer from malnutrition, 462,000 of them are suffering from a severe form of malnutrition. The population faces a new health crisis. 25% of cases are in the province of Sana'a. Hospitals and medical centers are having difficulty in assisting the large number of patients with cholera symptoms due to the shortage of doctors and nursing staff. The previous epidemic had been recorded this past winter with 27,000 cases and 130 deaths.

(From Agenzia Fides, 17/5/2017)

Thousands of children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, cholera or diarrhea, and the figure is increasing rapidly. According to UNICEF, therapeutic food was given in the months of January and February to 35,400 sick children, double the amount compared to the same period in 2016, while 18,400 were diagnosed cholera and watery diarrhea. Currently the situation is serious, children are dying of malnutrition, hunger, thirst and disease. During the famine of 2011, 130 thousand children died. Children with acute malnutrition are nine times more prone to diseases and infections. According to UNICEF, nearly a million will be affected this year. The United Nations Fund assured the administration of life-saving until the month of June and is already engaged in a special Mobile program to expand the scope of nutritional support, water and sanitation.

(From Vatican Radio)

During the night of Saturday 1 April a huge mud slide swamped the Colombian town of Mocoa. The Mocoa and SanBoyaco rivers burst their banks sweeping away homes, cars and two bridges. At least 17 districts are affected. The death toll has been set at 254, including 62 minors, and over 400 people are reported injured. Whole districts have disappeared under the mud. According to local sources the town is now isolated and without electric power or water. The local meteorological office said the past month of March registered the highest amount of rainfall since 2011. In the face of the tragedy, the Bishops of Colombia have encouraged the people to pray for those killed in the disaster and to ask God to give strength to all those affected. In a message, sent also to Fides, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Colombia, urges church communities, individuals, and all people and institutions of goodwill, to take opportune initiatives to promote the work of rebuilding. Pope Francis, during his Sunday Angelus prayer and address on 2 April, made a heartfelt appeal: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy which has struck Colombia. I pray for the victims and assure my closeness to those who mourn their dear ones, and I thank all those involved in rescue work”. Mocoa is in the region of Putumayo, on the border between Ecuador and Peru, where, since the beginning of this year at least 90 people lost their lives due to torrential rain.

(From Vatican Radio)

The recent intense rains have caused heavy flooding in Peru, causing serious material damage in addition to the death of 90 people . As with all natural disasters, children are the ones who suffer the main consequences. It is estimated that about 285 thousand young children have been affected. The humanitarian needs are enormous. About 29,000 houses have collapsed, leaving at least 120,000 people homeless. Most of the affected areas have been deprived of drinking water. Another major concern are the more than 2 million children who currently cannot go to schools because they have been closed due to the damages.

(From Vatican Radio)

The intense rains in recent weeks in various regions of Ecuador and Peru continue to cause damage to people, animals, crops and infrastructure. In Ecuador, during the rainy season, known as the equatorial winter, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) reported that in the first 13 days of March, rainfall reached the expected amount of rain for the entire month.
Inamhi believes that in various regions of the country the abnormal conditions will continue, especially in the coastal area, and hopes that storms end by April. It is estimated that currently there are more than 5,000 families affected. The situation in the north of Peru is just as bad, where incessant rains have so far caused 60 000 deaths and affected some 600,000 people, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (COEN). In the city of Piura alone there are more than 15 thousand victims and the number of people affected has reached 50,000. Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, Archbishop of Lima, has renewed his call for solidarity with the flood victims. (AP)

(From Agenzia Fides, 16/03/2017)

There are about 300 suspected cases of cholera which were recorded in February in the counties of Yirol East and Awerial (South Sudan), but the number is expected to grow because "the stories of those who arrive at the health centers from villages further away are alarming". This is what a statement sent to Agenzia Fides by Doctors with Africa Cuamm report. The data reported come from the counties of Yirol East and Awerial (ex Lakes State) where Cuamm works and coordinates the activities of 16 health centers. This is an area that has many complexities, from the difficulties to reach the communities that live scattered along the Nile and far from health centers, to the problem of offering adequate services to a population that, since December 2013, has grown under the influx of thousands of displaced.
"We have not yet an official confirmation that this is cholera, but we think it is very likely", says Giovanni Dall'Oglio, responsible for the operation of Cuamm in the area. In November 2016, the intervention of Cuamm in the former Lakes State extended to all 8 counties (including those affected by the epidemic of cholera), supporting three hospitals and 90 peripheral health centers, in favor of a population of just under 1 million inhabitants, about 250,000 children under five years of age and 58,000 pregnant women. It is a huge area which also includes the banks of the Nile and its islands, these area do not have any kind of health center. (L.M.) (From Agenzia Fides 20/02/2017)

A total of four quakes over 5.0 on the Richter Scale and more than 200 aftershocks have been recorded in central Italy. A man was found dead under the debris of a building in the town of Castel Castagna, in the province Teramo.

Among the affected municipalities are Amatrice and Montereale were hard hit by a deadly earthquake last year.

The mayor of Montereale said resignedly:

‘‘We have had this problem since 2009”, Massimiliano Georgi told. “Every time we get back on our feet, another one comes along. Unfortunately we have to live with this problem and we have to try to keep going.’‘

(euronews.com)