Aid to the Church in need allocates major contributions to Mali and Syria

(Feb. 05, 2013) “Aid to the Church in Need” ACN, has allocated extraordinary contributions to Mali and Syria. The aid was sent in response to an appeal by Bishop Georges Fonghoro of Mopti in Mali. "We must act immediately. The needs of the population are enormous”, the prelate said in a letter to the Papal Foundation. He denounced the terrible conditions of the people, in particular children, many of whom are severely malnourished.
ACN donated to the Diocese of Mopti an initial contribution of € 40 thousand to provide food and medicine to 326 families. The Bishop said Malians have suffered a lot in the last month , especially in the north of the country. Now the situation is a little more quiet, but a state of emergency lasting for more than three months has caused fear and many are afraid to return to their villages. "
The Papal Foundation also approved a special aid of € 155 thousand for Syrian refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Fr. Andrzej Halemba, in charge of ACN for the Middle East said "While fighting continues, the winter temperatures have worsened the conditions of refugees and internally displaced people. For Christians, devoid of any future, their only support and point of reference is the Church. That is why it is essential to distribute aid through the diocese and Caritas," he added.
"Aid to the Church in Need" (ACN), Foundation of pontifical right, founded in 1947 by Fr. Werenfried van Straaten, stands out as the only organization that implements projects to support the ministry of the Church where it is persecuted or has no means to fulfil its mission. In 2011, ACN raised over € 82 million in 17 countries where it has offices and has made more than 4,600 projects in 145 countries.