VATICAN CITY, APRIL 7, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II allocated $6.5 million last year for the development of needy communities and to relieve sufferings caused by sickness, war and natural catastrophes.
The allocation is reflected in the 2003 Report published by the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” the Vatican organization entrusted with distributing the Pope’s charity funds, donated by people worldwide.
John Paul II allocated $822,465 for emergencies, as follows:
— $162,000 for victims of earthquakes in Algeria, El Salvador, Iran, Turkey and Uganda.
— $243,000 for victims of floods in Argentina, Bolivia, Fiji, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
— $241,473 for victims of war in Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria and Congo.
— $59,304 for victims of drought and famine in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Moldova.
— $91,688 for refugees and emigrants in Algeria, Angola, Haiti, the Central African Republic and Uganda.
— $25,000 for AIDS victims in Malawi and Romania.
The “Cor Unum” report says the Pope allocated $858,223 for “communal human promotion,” as follows:
— $93,260 for social assistance and health care in Brazil, India, Israel, Ukraine and Vietnam.
— $205,384 for children’s needs in Brazil, Chile, Ghana, India, Mongolia, the Central African Republic, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uganda and Vietnam.
— $103,200 for formation in Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan.
— $86,364 for agriculture and food in Nigeria, Peru, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
— $152,840 for the reconstruction and restoration of housing in Angola, Cameroon, Croatia, Ethiopia, Jerusalem, Haiti, India, Kenya, Libya, Lithuania and Romania.
— $188,175 for socio-pastoral activities in El Salvador, Finland, Jerusalem, Ghana, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Congo and Vietnam.
— $14,000 for assistance to women in Angola and Cameroon.
— $15,000 for the elderly in Uganda.
“Cor Unum” allocated 2,474,307 euros ($3 million) to help victims of drought and desertification in the African region of the Sahel.
This aid, channeled through the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, established by the Pope in 1984, has funded 235 projects in Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
Finally, on behalf of the Holy Father, “Cor Unum” allocated $1,843,200 to Indian, Mestizo and Afro-American needy peasants of Latin America.
The “Populorum Progressio” Foundation, set up by the Pope in 1992, distributes these funds.
