
More detail about CAFOD’s response:
On Saturday 14 August, a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. More than 1900 people have been killed and at least one million more people are affected. Tropical storm Grace has now hit Haiti, exacerbating the already serious emergency. CAFOD is working through the local Church organisations, Caritas Haiti, the Jesuit Migrants and Refugees Service, the religious congregations and sister agency Catholic Relief Services to provide urgent humanitarian aid - food, water, tents, hygiene kits and first aid for families affected.
In Afghanistan, we are shocked and gravely concerned by the Taliban take-over of the vast majority of the country. The generosity and compassion of our Catholic community have allowed us to stand together with communities in Afghanistan since the 1980s, supporting local organisations committed to improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalised people. As you will appreciate, the situation in Afghanistan is uncertain and changing rapidly. Our Emergency Response Team are assessing how best to respond. We are doing everything possible to ensure the immediate well-being of local partners and the communities they serve. Please keep the people of Afghanistan in your prayers.
We are also responding to serious food shortages in Africa – in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, South Sudan and north-east Nigeria. Families across these three countries face extreme hunger because of a deadly combination of Covid, climate change and protracted conflict. A recent UN report identifies hunger in Tigray in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and north-east Nigeria as “catastrophic”. We have committed £500,000 already to get food and clean water to hundreds of thousands of people. With further support local aid workers will be able to scale up their response to reach more women, children, men, the elderly and people with disabilities with the food they urgently need.
Thank you for your solidarity, your prayers and your support for CAFOD’s work across the world. We share this prayer with you in this time of crisis.
Loving Lord,
For those who have died, give them eternal rest. For those who are bereaved, comfort and console them. For those who are hurt, heal and strengthen them.
Lord God, enable us to help our suffering brothers and sisters in whatever way we can. Heavenly Father, be with us now and always. Amen.