Ottawa, February 10, 2023 - 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 Monday. They have pledged the total sum of nearly one million Canadian dollars.

“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 you can contact the organisations as follows:

ACN: web: https://bit.ly/acn-donate-syria Toll free #: 1-800-585-6333 Ext 228

CJI: web https://canadianjesuitsinternational.ca Toll free #: 1-800-448-2148

CNEWA Canada: web: www.cnewa.ca Toll free #: 1-866-322-4441

DPCC: web www.devp.org Toll free #: 1-800-494-1401

About the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948.

About Aid to Church in Need
Aid to the Church in need is a pontifical charity founded in 1947 and funding emergency and pastoral projects in more than 140 countries.

About Canadian Jesuit International
Canadian Jesuits International is the international solidarity agency of the Jesuits of Canada that supports poor and marginalized people in Africa, Asia and Latin America through the work of Jesuits and other partners as they strive for a more just society. CJI also carries out education and advocacy in Canada on international social justice and global solidarity.

About CNEWA Canada
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) has been a lifeline for the poor, displaced people, and those affected by war in the Middle East, North-East Africa, India and Eastern Europe. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, and under the guidance of Pope Francis, CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern Catholic churches to identify needs and implement solutions.

About Development and Peace-Caritas Canada
Development and Peace — Caritas Canada is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. It works in partnership with local organizations in over 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Middle East to create greater justice in the world and to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable people.