Helping the Caribbean after Matthew

Following hurricane Matthew, which in recent days has struck with extraordinary vehemence in the Caribbean, and particularly in the territory of Haiti, causing - according to the data available at present, but not yet definitive - 1,000 victims, Pope Francis has decided to send a first-time gift of 100,000 dollars - via the Pontifical Council Cor Unum - as a contribution to helping people in this phase of responding to the emergency.

This amount, which will be distributed with the collaboration of the Apostolic Nunciature, through the local Church in the dioceses most affected by the disaster, will be used to support the work of providing assistance to food workers, and is intended as a first and immediate expression of the sentiments of spiritual and paternal closeness and encouragement of the Supreme Pontiff toward those who inhabit the affected territories.

This contribution is part of the network of assistance that was immediately activated by the Catholic Church overall, which has involved various Episcopal Conferences and numerous charitable organizations.  Caritas Haiti, in collaboration with Caritas Internationalis, immediately launched an initial emergency appeal to help 2,700 families (13,500 people) through the purchase and distribution of 2,700 food kits, providing 2,700 hygiene kits and activating programmes aimed at informing and sensitizing people in Haiti about how to prevent infectious diseases.

Tale contributo si inserisce all’interno della rete di aiuti che si è subito attivata in tutta la Chiesa cattolica e che ha coinvolto diverse Conferenze episcopali e numerosi organismi di carità. Caritas Haiti, in collegamento con Caritas Internationalis, ha subito lanciato un primo appello di emergenza per aiuti a 2.700 famiglie (13.500 persone) per l’acquisto e la distribuzione di 2.700 kit alimentari, la fornitura di 2.700 kit d’igiene e l’attivazione di programmi per consigliare e sensibilizzare la popolazione sulla prevenzione di malattie infettive.