Italy’s churches hold collection for Venezuela

Vatican News

A nationwide collection will be held in churches across Italy on Sunday to support the victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on 24 June, as the United Nations says a further 80 million US dollars is still needed for humanitarian relief.

The initiative, promoted by the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) through Caritas Italiana, is intended as a tangible expression of solidarity from the Church in Italy with the Church and people of Venezuela.

Funds raised through the collection will help address both immediate and longer-term humanitarian needs, including the distribution of drinking water, food supplies, hygiene kits, essential goods and medicines, as well as healthcare, psychosocial assistance and spiritual support.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, the CEI allocated an initial 500,000 euros earmarked for the Catholic Church to support emergency relief efforts.

Rising death toll

The scale of the disaster continues to emerge. More than a month after the earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, the death toll has risen to over 5,500, with thousands more injured and tens of thousands of people displaced from their homes.

According to figures released by Venezuelan authorities, hundreds of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while temporary shelters are hosting displaced families.

The United Nations World Food Programme says it has already provided assistance to more than 100,000 people and aims to reach half a million in the coming months. However, the agency warns that an additional 80 million US dollars in funding is still needed to sustain relief operations.