Development and Peace, the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, will be providing $5.4 million in aid to victims of the Syrian crisis.
Development and Peace, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.
Development and Peace with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada will be providing $5.4 million in humanitarian aid to victims of the crisis in Syria.
These funds will go toward health services, sanitation and shelter for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan who are not living in camps and for the internally displaced in Syria.
Development and Peace is working with Caritas Lebanon, Caritas Jordan and other local organizations in Syria.
The human suffering caused by this nearly three-year long crisis has only continued to increase and there are now more than 2 million refugees in neighbouring countries and an estimated 5 million displaced people within Syria itself. In response to this humanitarian crisis, Development and Peace in collaboration with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) launched an appeal to Canadians in June to raise funds towards relief efforts.
To date, over $1.3 million has been raised for programs in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
“The Catholics of our country have been very generous in responding to the appeal by Pope Francis and the Bishops of Canada, and in showing support for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the war in Syria. I am most happy Development and Peace can give help through the various projects it will be sponsoring in this suffering region of our world,” said Archbishop Paul-André Durocher of Gatineau, president of the CCCB.
With few signs of the crisis ending, Development and Peace will continue to support those affected with funds raised through its appeal.
“This is one of the worst refugee and humanitarian crises happening in the world today, and thanks to the generosity and solidarity of all those who contributed, we can provide critical services to all those impacted by the violence and insecurity Syria,” said Michael Casey, Executive Director of Development and Peace.
Development and Peace is continuing to accept donations for relief efforts in the region. Donations can be made at the Web site devp.org
