CAFOD

DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal 

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Venezuela after two devastating earthquakes near Caracas. 
The scale of the destruction is catastrophic and the UN estimates that millions of people have been affected. 
Many thousands have been killed, injured or are missing and buildings, including churches, seminaries and Caracas Cathedral, have been damaged. 

CAFOD’s trusted Church partners in Venezuela are already helping the survivors of this crisis with emergency water, food hygiene kits and shelter. Our local partner, Janeth Márquez, President of Caritas Venezuela, explained that the emergency response is now moving from the initial search and rescue efforts into a longer-term phase of supporting families and communities affected by the earthquake. Working alongside civil society and local authorities, Caritas is helping to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. 

“Right now, we are entering the second phase. The first phase was about saving lives, assessing the situation, and getting diagnoses. The second phase now is about organizing with civil society, authorities and other community leaders so that we can truly provide good care to those who are suffering. This is going to take some time; this isn’t just for today.” 

Caritas Venezuela has dispatched more than 321 trucks carrying emergency supplies to affected communities, while continuing to assess needs and prepare for the long road ahead. 

On the weekend July 18th/19th, our Parish will hold a Second Collection in support of this Appeal 

 

GLOBAL DEBT CRISIS PETITION 

Many of the world’s poorest countries have been plunged into a debt crisis. Despite facing significant poverty burdens, countries are having to make huge payments on high-interest loans to wealthy banks, institutions and governments, leaving them unable to properly fund essential services. Often, the original debt has been repaid many times over but will never be cleared because the interest keeps on growing.   If you missed the opportunity on the first weekend of July to sign the CAFOD Petition, you can still do so online by following the links at www.cafod.org.uk 

 

SUDAN EMERGENCY APPEAL 

All donations made via the CAFOD Red Box at St. Thomas’ continue to support this Appeal.   Over 1,000 days of conflict has left Sudan at breaking point. It has now become the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.  CAFOD is working in remote areas with local partners to provide emergency food packages, improved access to clean water, medical care, support forrefugees and emergency cash.