Bishops and Catholic organizations in Canada launch Turkey / Syria earthquake emergency aid campaign

 

By CCCB Communications

With the support of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Aid to Church in Need (ACN), Canadian Jesuits International (CJI), Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada, and Development and Peace-Caritas Canada (DPCC) are launching an emergency aid campaign in response to the destructive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6. They have pledged the total sum of nearly $1 million.

“As Catholics we are compelled to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in dire circumstances like the thousands of families that have lost loved ones, or are injured and have lost their homes, due to the earthquake,” said Bishop Poisson, president of the CCCB and Bishop of Saint-Jérôme-Mont-Laurier. “For this reason, local Bishops have been invited to promote this emergency campaign in their dioceses/eparchies and to invite their faithful to donate to any one of the organizations collecting funds.”

“These four organizations are well positioned in the region to respond quickly and efficiently with their Caritas and Jesuit Refugee Service networks, local Eastern Churches, and their many social and emergency initiatives,” said Bishop Poisson.

“Our partners in the region know the local reality and they have been working together on the ground to support Syrian families in Syria and Syrian refugees in Turkey who have been affected by 12 years of civil war,” said, Marie-Claude Lalonde, National Director of ACN, Jenny Cafiso Executive Director of CJI, Dr. Adriana Bara, National Director of CNEWA Canada and Carl Hétu Executive Director of DPCC.

Funds received will be used now and in the coming months for food, medical supplies, shelter, and other essentials to meet basic human needs. These funds will also serve to meet long term needs to help families go back to a more stable life.

To donate or for any inquiries:

ACN:  Toll free #: 1-800-585-6333 Ext 228
CJI: https://canadianjesuitsinternational.ca Toll free #: 1-800-448-2148
CNEWA Canada: www.cnewa.ca Toll free #: 1-866-322-4441
DPCC: www.devp.org Toll free #: 1-800-494-1401

CCCB Media Release: English /French