hand and heart

The recent post office troubles have impacted our regular fundraising efforts. Please consider supporting the Register and Catholic journalism by using one of the methods below:

  • Donate online
  • Donate by e-transfer to accounting@catholicregister.org
  • Donate by telephone: 416-934-3410 ext. 406 or toll-free 1-855-441-4077 ext. 406
Rebels destroy Caritas office, church in Mali

Rebels destroy Caritas office, church in Mali

By  Catholic News Service
  • April 4, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Rebels fighting to establish a separate state in northern Mali destroyed a Caritas office and a local church in Gao, one of the cities they captured in late March and early April, according to Caritas Internationalis.

"Caritas staff fled Gao on Saturday. We learned from our guard today that the center and the church compound have been destroyed," the priest who directs Caritas Gao told the organization's Vatican-based central office April 2.

"We have received calls from the small Catholic community left in Gao. They are now in hiding, fearing for their lives," said the priest, identified only as Father Jean-Jacques. He said there are about 200 Catholics living in Gao, a city with a population of more than 85,000 people. The vast majority are Muslims.

Caritas Internationalis said rebels of the Taureg ethnic group, fighting for an independent state, had seized three regional capitals in as many days. The main rebel group is the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). They are operating alongside the Islamist group Ansar Edine, who, Caritas said, have links to al-Qaida's North African branch.

Despite the conflict in the north and a military coup March 22 that ousted democratically-elected President Amadou Toumani Toure, Caritas Mali said it continues to provide desperately needed food aid to the rest of the country.

The capital of Mali is calm, said Theodore Togo, secretary-general of Caritas Mali. "We are monitoring the situation in the north."

"Apart from Gao and Mopti, which have temporally suspended operations, our program continues assisting people affected by the food crisis," he said. "If the rebels limit their activities to the North, then the majority of our aid programs will be able to continue as planned."

Caritas Mali is distributing corn, millet, rice and sorghum, as well as seeds to more than 100,000 people affected by a growing food crisis, Caritas Internationalis said.

In addition, the organization said, Caritas members in Niger are providing food aid to refugees who have fled the conflict in northern Mali.

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Mexican Senate approves religion liberty provisions English nurse wins clash over conscience rights without going to court »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE