On the night of September 1, 2024, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, a town in northern France, was engulfed in flames in what was later determined to be a deliberate act of destruction. The fire caused catastrophic damage, with repair costs estimated at €10 million. While an online fundraising campaign by the Heritage Foundation quickly amassed €135,000 from over 1,200 donors, this amount barely scratched the surface of what was needed.

Just as despair loomed, an unexpected intervention transformed the narrative. The town received an astonishing €1 million donation to aid in the church’s reconstruction. Initially shrouded in mystery, the source of this substantial contribution was revealed by municipal councilor François Decoster. In a heartfelt announcement on social media, Decoster expressed gratitude to the “Marcel Dassault Industrial Group” and the Dassault family for their exceptional support.

The donation, made by the heirs of Marcel Dassault—founder of France’s leading aerospace company, Dassault Aviation—demonstrates a powerful counterpoint to the forces of hate that seek to obliterate symbols of faith. While the family’s financial capacity made such generosity possible, their decision to act in this way speaks volumes about their values and commitment to preserving heritage.

“This incredible gesture, alongside contributions from the Heritage Foundation’s donors, underscores the enduring importance of our shared cultural and spiritual landmarks,” Decoster wrote.

The incident in Saint-Omer is emblematic of the tensions within France, a country with a deeply rooted yet complex relationship with religion. While nearly 1,000 anti-Christian acts were recorded nationwide in 2023, the response from both local communities and benefactors like the Dassault family underscores a resilience and dedication to safeguarding France’s religious and cultural legacy.

Beyond its immediate financial impact, the donation carries symbolic weight. It highlights the stark contrast between the destructive impulses of a few and the commitment of others to rebuild and preserve what unites communities. For the residents of Saint-Omer, it serves as a reminder that even in the face of hostility, hope and solidarity can prevail.

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Violence and Harassment: The Human Toll

The report documents 232 cases of direct attacks on individuals for their Christian faith, including harassment, threats, and physical violence. These incidents paint a grim picture of a Europe struggling to uphold its values of religious freedom.

Examples include vandalized churches, desecrated religious statues, and acts of violence that escalated to murder. In Spain, a Catholic altar server lost his life in a jihadist attack in Algeciras, while in the UK, a Christian convert from Islam survived an attempted murder, branded an “apostate” by his assailant.

Troubling Trends and Regional Insights

Certain nations stand out for their soaring rates of anti-Christian hate crimes:

– France: Nearly 1,000 cases in 2023, making it the hardest-hit country.

– United Kingdom: Over 700 incidents, ranging from physical threats to institutional discrimination.

– Germany: A shocking 105% increase, with cases rising from 135 in 2022 to 277 in 2023.

These numbers are matched by growing restrictions on religious expression in public life. Across Europe, Christians report being penalized for articulating beliefs on life, marriage, or family values. In schools, workplaces, and even public forums, fear of professional or social reprisal has led to widespread self-censorship.

Secularism or Suppression?

The report draws attention to what it calls the rise of «state-imposed secularism,» a form of governance that risks infringing on religious rights under the guise of neutrality. This extends to limitations on conscientious objection, particularly in matters like abortion or euthanasia, leaving believers without legal recourse.

“Governments are tasked with protecting rights, yet in some cases, they are becoming the oppressors,” the report warns. This phenomenon undermines Europe’s legacy of protecting individual freedoms, replacing dialogue with repression.

Broader Context: Religious Hate Crimes Across Faiths

While Christians remain a significant target, hate crimes against Jews and Muslims also persist at alarming levels. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documented 9,000 antisemitic and 6,000 anti-Muslim incidents in 2023. However, the rise in anti-Christian incidents stands out for its sharp year-on-year increase, particularly in countries that have historically upheld Christian traditions.

Regina Polak, an OSCE representative, remarked: “From vandalized churches to physical assaults, Christians are under attack across the region. This is not only a threat to faith communities but to the democratic values we hold dear.”

Types of Offenses: A Breakdown

OIDAC Europe’s analysis revealed a range of anti-Christian offenses in 2023:

– Vandalism against churches: 62%, including arson attacks (10%) and desecration of sacred spaces (24%).

– Threats and harassment: 8%.

– Physical violence: 7%, often involving severe injuries or fatalities.

These attacks are not confined to specific regions but represent a pan-European crisis that crosses borders and cultures.

A Call to Protect Fundamental Rights

The rise in anti-Christian hate crimes highlights a pressing need for renewed commitment to safeguarding religious freedom in Europe. Anja Hoffmann, OIDAC Europe’s executive director, emphasized:

“These trends should serve as a wake-up call. Ensuring the right to debate philosophical and religious ideas openly, without fear of persecution, is essential for a thriving democracy. The cost of silence is too great.”

Europe’s Crossroads: A Legacy at Stake

In a continent deeply shaped by its Christian roots, the escalating hostility against its largest faith community signals a profound societal challenge. Europe now faces a pivotal moment: will it reaffirm its foundational principles of tolerance and freedom, or allow growing polarization and secularism to undermine its moral fabric?

The answer may well define the future of pluralism—not just for Christians, but for all who call Europe home.

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Molina, who authored the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?”, described the situation to LA PRENSA as a direct assault on the Church and its ability to minister to its followers. “It’s customary for us as Catholics to call upon priests for the anointing when facing critical health issues, for spiritual peace,” she stated. “However, priests are now being turned away at hospitals, where they’re told they are barred from entry.” This prohibition, Molina added, extends to all regions of the country, effectively leaving many Catholic Nicaraguans unable to receive this essential sacrament at a critical moment in their lives.

The Anointing of the Sick, once known as “Extreme Unction,” is administered to provide spiritual strength and grace during severe illness or old age. It involves the anointing of the sick individual’s forehead and hands, accompanied by prayers led by a priest. Reserved for those facing significant health challenges, this sacrament offers peace and readiness for the “transition to the Father’s house,” as described in the Catholic Catechism. With this new policy, numerous Nicaraguan Catholics may now be denied this sacrament in their final moments, an issue Molina calls “devastating.”

Despite an outwardly calm public facade, the Nicaraguan government’s persecution of the Catholic Church remains as severe as ever, Molina emphasized. She pointed to constant surveillance, harassment, and intimidation of priests as evidence that hostility towards the Church has not waned. “Police continually monitor priests, asking questions and gathering detailed personal information, from phone numbers to family names,” she said. This vigilance, according to Molina, has led many priests to seek exile rather than face intimidation and, in some cases, the threat of imprisonment.

One priest from the Diocese of Siuna, managed by Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, has recently joined the ranks of exiled clergy. After receiving threats and a summons to appear before the authorities, the priest made the difficult decision to leave Nicaragua, fearing detention and further persecution. Bishop Mora Ortega himself had previously been forcibly removed from the country, another victim of what many are calling a campaign of intimidation by the Ortega government.

With this latest case, a total of 67 clergy have now gone into exile to escape persecution, joining the 255 other religious figures forced to leave Nicaragua. Among those counted in Molina’s report are 98 nuns, along with bishops, priests, and seminarians. In addition, 34 have been prevented from returning to Nicaragua, and at least nine have been expelled outright.

The growing exodus of religious leaders and the Church’s diminishing ability to serve its congregation has left many Catholics in Nicaragua feeling vulnerable. “There may be a facade of calm, but the oppression persists,” Molina observed. The continued monitoring and restrictive measures imposed on the Church stand as a sobering reminder of the regime’s zero-tolerance approach toward dissenting voices, especially those within religious communities.

As Nicaragua’s faithful grapple with this ongoing repression, the international community is increasingly being urged to address and denounce these escalating infringements on religious freedom. The right to receive spiritual care in times of illness and death is considered by many a fundamental one, and the government’s recent prohibitions have sparked concern worldwide over the trajectory of religious rights under the Ortega administration.

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His release brings a moment of relief amid the tension gripping Nigeria’s Christian communities as clergy face growing threats of kidnapping across the country’s southern region. Just this week, new abductions were reported. Father Christian Uchegbu from the Diocese of Orlu was kidnapped on November 6 while traveling from Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta region. Additionally, Father Emmanuel Azubuike was abducted on November 5 in Imo State.

Kidnappings of clergy have spiked in recent years in Nigeria, with perpetrators often targeting church leaders for ransom. The escalating situation has drawn attention to Nigeria’s broader security challenges, where criminal groups exploit weak law enforcement and community vulnerability. Faith leaders across Nigeria have urged the government to take more robust action to protect religious figures and their congregations.

As Father Oyode recovers, his story of courage and sacrifice shines a light on the resilience of Nigeria’s clergy, who continue to serve their communities despite serious risks. Yet the wave of abductions that shows no signs of abating has left congregations fearful, with church leaders calling for urgent steps to prevent further violence against the country’s spiritual figures.

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A significant highlight of this year’s Red Wednesday is the release of the 2024 edition of «Persecuted & Forgotten?». The ACN report examines the situation for Christians in 18 countries of particular concern regarding persecution, revealing that the conditions for Christians in the majority of these countries have either worsened or remained unchanged, with only one showing slight signs of improvement. While the report was officially presented in English, Dutch, and French-speaking countries in October, German, Italian, and Spanish versions will be unveiled throughout November.

Australia  will mainly be focusing on Christian persecution and suffering in the Holy Land. A total of 22 geographical dioceses and five Eastern Catholic eparchies in Australia have committed to mark the event in some form or other, many of which will be lighting their main cathedrals in red. This is double the number of dioceses that participated in 2023. This year, for the first time, two dioceses in New Zealand will also be taking part in Red November.

In Canada, on 20 November, a special mass will be held in Montreal and the Dome of St. Joseph’s Oratory, the largest shrine to St Joseph in the world, will be lit in red in commemoration. A Red Wednesday vigil will be held in Toronto as well.

Chile, a country that has witnessed the repeated burning of churches, and Mexico, where priests have been killed for denouncing injustice and fighting for human dignity, will also participate in this global initiative. In Colombia, Sister Gloria Narvaez, who was kidnapped in Mali by terrorists, will share her testimony.

Europe in Red

Most of the activities and events for Red Wednesday will be taking place in Europe. In the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, hundreds of churches will light in red. Germany is also focusing on an ecumenical approach, and has secured the support of a well-known local Evangelical music band called “Koenige und Priester” or “Kings and Priests”. The band will hold a concert which up to 1200 people are expected to attend, and which will be streamed live on Catholic and Evangelical TV and radio stations. On Thursday, 21 November, the “Persecuted and Forgotten?” report will be officially presented in the Diocese of Fulda, with livestreaming.

For several years, France has held a Night of Witnesses, with first-hand testimony from victims of religious persecution, and this year, for the first time, this very successful event will be integrated into Red Week. The Night of Witnesses will tour several French cathedrals, along with an exhibition on Christian persecution. ACN France will focus on the situation in Armenia, Pakistan and Burkina Faso.

Spain will have a full-on programme of events for Red Wednesday this year, including a traveling exhibition titled «The Beauty of Martyrdom.» The exhibition will be displayed in Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza before visiting various dioceses and Catholic universities across the country. The Cathedral of Almudena, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and the Basilica of Covadonga will be illuminated in red, as will the Amphitheatre of Tarragona, which is of great symbolic value, as the spot where the first martyrs of what is now Spain were killed for their faith.

In the United Kingdom, Catholic schools have been actively participated in Red Wednesday for several year. This year ACN will hold a one-hour livestream where different schools can share what they have been doing to raise awareness about Christian persecution. On the evening of November 20, the annual Red Wednesday Mass will be held at London’s Brompton Oratory, featuring the presentation of the «Courage to be Christian» award. Additionally, ACN’s UK national office will host events at the Palace of Westminster in London and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to spotlight the hardships faced by displaced Christians, especially children, due to conflict and persecution worldwide.

On November 20, 24 of Ireland’s 26 cathedrals will be illuminated in red, along with the world’s largest statue of St. Patrick atop Slieve Patrick Mountain. The national Marian and Eucharistic Shrine in Knock will also be illuminated red to highlight global Christian persecution as part of ACN Ireland’s Week of Witness.

Red Wednesday events have been confirmed in many other countries, including Portugal, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Malta, and the Philippines. Those interested in organising their own initiatives or learning more about existing ones, should contact their local national offices, or, if their country does not have an ACN delegation, please contact ACN International directly.

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(ZENIT News / Burkina Faso, 11.05.2024).- “The attacks are multiplying. We ask for your fervent prayer. Pray for the victims and for the fearful survivors,” asked a priest from the Diocese of Fada N’Gourma in eastern Burkina Faso, speaking to the international pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

At the beginning of October, at least 150 people were killed by terrorists in Manni, in the same diocese. On 20 October, Ziéla and Kombembgo, two villages from the Saatenga parish in the Southeast of Fada N’Gourma, were attacked by about one hundred terrorists. At Ziéla, the terrorists appeared around 10 am. While the inhabitants were going about their business after Sunday prayer, some shots were fired. The men immediately tried to flee and hide because, as a local source explained to ACN, the terrorists “principally attack men of fighting age, and not women, children or old people”. However, “a young Christian girl who wanted to run away from her house tragically lost her life, killed in error, as the terrorists mistook her for an adult,” said a source, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

According to the same source, the terrorists set fire to many houses belonging both to Christians and Muslims. The targeted houses included one belonging to the catechist, who was outside the village when the attack took place. His wife, who had stayed home with their three young children, was mishandled, and their home was pillaged and then burned. “The family is safe and sound, and the fact that the husband was absent saved his life,” reported the same source to ACN.

Catechists are currently on the front line of the violence in the country, as it is they who are charged with overseeing the faithful in many villages. Not all of them have the same luck as the catechist from Ziéla, who was outside the village when the terrorists attacked: “Barely six months ago, Édouard Yougbaré, catechist in Pouargoguin, 7 km from Saatenga, was brutally killed, leaving behind a widow and eight children. His last words were: ‘Lord Jesus, come and save me! Lord Jesus, come and save me!’” recalls ACN’s source.

That same Sunday, 20 October, Kombembgo, a village located 12 km from Saatenga, was likewise targeted by the terrorists. According to information gathered by ACN, three members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP in French) and another civilian lost their lives during this attack.

The VDP, civilians who collaborate with the national armed forces, play a crucial role in the defence of unprotected rural communities, where the Burkinabe army finds it hard to intervene. “Thanks to the rapid reaction of the VDP which was able to eliminate some terrorists, these didn’t have time to set fire to the houses in Kombembgo,” explained the source. However, the involvement of the VDP carries big risks. This was demonstrated by an attack in Piéla, roughly 150 km from Saatenga, in northern Fada N’Gourma, on 19 October, just a day earlier. The village was attacked by more than 100 terrorists, who killed approximately 13 people, including two members of the VDP and a Catholic woman.

This raid seems to have been carried out in reprisal for the support given by the population to the VDP. “The women had offered a motorbike to the VDP for their struggle for peace, an action which displeased the terrorists,” explained a local source to ACN. “The attackers also set fire to 16 houses, all belonging to Catholic families, and unfortunately situated on a hill, which enabled the terrorists to approach Kouri without being detected in time,” he added. Essential infrastructure like the clinic, the chemist and the VDP post were likewise destroyed. The village’s two catechists were able to escape and are now internally displaced.

Kouri had already been the target of another terrorist attack on 1 June 2024, during which people lost their lives and houses were burned, which led to the VDP being set up to reinforce local security.

One of the local priests called for prayer for the victims and for peace. “Let us implore the Lord for peace to return to our country, and to all countries being struck daily by murderous attacks, including Mali and Niger, and to nations at war like Ukraine, Israel and Lebanon. May the prayer of St Francis of Assisi guide us: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring love.’”

These tragedies underline the urgency of the security situation in Burkina Faso, where terrorist attacks began in 2015, and continue to ravage communities, leaving in their wake more than two million internally displaced people.

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(ZENIT News / Edo, Nigeria, 10.30.2024).- A priest was kidnapped from the minor seminary where he worked, last Sunday October 27th, and taken by armed bandits into the bush.

Armed gunmen broke into the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, in the Diocese of Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, at around 19h on Sunday evening and fired shots into the air, causing panic among students and staff, according to a diocesan statement sent to Aid to the Church in Need.

The bandits made their way to the courtyard of the minor seminary and abducted two students, who they intended to take as hostages. However, on hearing the confusion, Fr Thomas Oyode, the rector of the minor seminary, went out and bravely confronted the bandits.

Realising that help would not arrive in time to save the two students from being abducted, the priest proceeded to offer to exchange himself for the boys. The bandits accepted and made their way back to the bush with the priest in tow.

The diocese initially published a statement explaining the facts and stating that all other students and staff at the seminary were well, and had been removed to a safer location, but adding that the criminals had not yet made contact with the Church authorities. Meanwhile, however, the Nigerian press is indicating that a ransom has already been requested for the release of Fr Thomas.

Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous countries for priests in the world, over past years, as a combination of religious persecution and banditry has turned them into targets for kidnappings in what has become a criminal industry.

Auchi diocese is located in the south of Nigeria, which is mostly Christian, meaning that it is most likely that the kidnappers were acting purely for financial gain, rather than motivated by anti-Christian bias, but there is little information in this regard.

In 2023, a total of 25 priests, seminarians and religious were kidnapped in Nigeria, one of whom was later killed. A further three priests were murdered in the country in the same year.

ACN calls friends and benefactors to keep the Nigerian priest, and Nigerian Christians in general, in their prayers.

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This payment has become a condition for the free practice of religion. Extremists have made their demands clear, and recently collected money from the community with complete impunity, according to ACN’s sources, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. Those who were unable, or unwilling, to pay were warned that the alternative would be the forced closure of their places of worship.

The worrying situation began in the village of Dougouténé, where residents were first called to pay the so-called jizya, a religious tax. Now, Douna-Pen has begun to face the same issue. Local residents fear that the practice could spread to other villages, further threatening religious freedom and local security.

Islamic extremists had previously demanded the closing of both the Protestant and Catholic churches in Douna-Pen. For a while, during a fragile peace, residents were allowed to practice their faith, although without the use of musical instruments during worship, in a clear restriction of their religious freedom.

One of the confidential sources expressed deep concern over this escalation of what is already a difficult situation, saying: “We are supposed to be living in a secular state, where such practices should not take place, but unfortunately this is becoming our new reality. If the authorities do not act, the population will pay taxes directly into the coffers of the terrorists, who act under the flag of jihadism in the Republic of Mali.” The source added: “We know that the country is large and that the same is happening in other places, but if we don’t do something in this area soon, the consequences will be disastrous. Here people are butchered like rats!”

Douna-Pen is located in the Dioungani commune and has a significant Christian population. This recent case of financial extortion is the latest chapter in a history of violence and persecution that has swept the region. The situation is aggravated by the lack of basic infrastructure, such as roads and water supply, as well as the closing of schools due to lack of security.

There is concern that these forced payments to extremist Islamic groups might lead to deep divisions among the population, eroding trust in the government and further damaging the region’s fragile stability. Many residents are afraid of being abandoned by the Malian state.

The source concluded with a heartfelt request: “This is the cry of a citizen who still believes in the Republic of Mali and in its leaders, but we need immediate action to avoid a religious conflict from taking hold of this country. May God help us.”

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Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) launched “Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24” at an event in the UK Parliament, revealing that Christian persecution has significantly worsened in most countries surveyed.

“Persecuted and Forgotten?” provides global and regional analysis, examining the situation for Christians in 18 countries of key concern – from Nicaragua in Latin America to Burma (Myanmar) in the Far East – between summer 2022 and summer 2024.

Countries where Christian persecution and oppression has increased include world powers such as China and India, as well as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.

For the first time in the report’s 18-year history, Nicaragua is featured in response to extreme oppressive measures targeting Christians, notably the mass detention and expulsion of clergy.

The report features first-hand testimonies from survivors of anti-Christian attacks, in addition to details of incidents based on information obtained from ACN’s local contacts.

Recurring themes in the report include the displacement of Christian communities following attacks by extremist groups and the forced marriage and conversion of Christian women and girls, as well as the kidnapping and intimidation of priests and the publication of derogatory content about Christianity in school textbooks.

Anti-Christian persecution has been perpetrated by both state and non-state actors, such as terrorist organisations, other groups of religious extremists and criminal gangs.

The report states that militant Islam was responsible for the increased persecution in all six African countries reviewed, indicating that “the epicentre of militant Islamist violence has shifted from the Middle East to Africa”.

It goes on to explain: “Mass migration of Christian communities, triggered by militant Islamist attacks, has destabilised and disenfranchised them, raising questions about the long-term survival of the Church in key regions.”

The report states: “Authoritarian regimes, including those in China, Eritrea, India and Iran, ramped up repressive measures against Christians, either in the name of religious nationalism or state secularism/communism.

“The restrictions included tougher sentencing for alleged insults against state ideology, confiscation of places of worship, increased arrests of clergy and laity as well as longer periods of detention.”

Other highlights from the report include an upsurge in violent attacks on Christians in Pakistan triggered by blasphemy allegations and the detention of more than 850 people under anti-conversion laws in India.

Vietnam is the only country in the report where a slight improvement was noted, especially because of “steps taken to re-establish diplomatic ties” with the Vatican.

The Persecuted and Forgotten? parliamentary launch event featured speeches by crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool, ACN (UK) Head of Press and Public Affairs John Pontifex and ACN (UK) Public & Parliamentary Affairs Officer Daniel Beurthe.

Attendees also heard witness testimonies from Iraqi Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of Erbil, Pakistani Christian advocate Ribqa Nevash and Nigerian Islamist abduction survivor Father Stephen Ojapah.

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(ZENIT News / Manni, Burkina Faso, 10.16.2024).- On Sunday, 6 October 2024, a new terrorist attack took place in the town of Manni in the East Region of Burkina Faso. Various local sources told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the death toll exceeded 150. The town is home to a large Catholic community, and many Christians, as well as Muslims, were killed in the massacre.

The sources told ACN that the terrorists first cut mobile phone networks before attacking the local market, where many people had gathered after Mass. They then opened fire indiscriminately, looted shops and set fire to several buildings, burning some victims alive. The same sources reported that the next day, the perpetrators returned to attack medical staff and kill the many wounded in the city’s hospital. A new incursion took place on Tuesday, 8 October, when the terrorists again invaded the town of Manni, massacring all the men they could find.

Many of the victims were residents from nearby villages who had sought refuge in Manni after being driven out of their homes by terrorists. “The situation is beyond horrific,” one of the local sources told ACN. “But even if the terrorists burned everything, they didn’t burn our faith!”

In a message on 9 October addressed to priests, consecrated persons and laity, Bishop Pierre Claver Malgo, of the Diocese of Fada N’Gourma, described the attack as “barbaric”, and expressed his “sincere compassion for all the bereaved families” insisting that “any threat to the dignity of man and to his life must touch the very heart of the Church”. The bishop also stressed the importance of not losing heart and keeping hope alive “for a better tomorrow”.

The attack in Manni comes amid a continuing deterioration of the security situation in Burkina Faso, where armed extremist groups have intensified their offensives, targeting both security forces and civilians. For several years in a row, Burkina Faso has endured the highest level of extremist violence in the entire Sahel region. At the end of August, the country experienced the worst terrorist attack in its history in Barsalogho.

Since then, estimates of those who were killed in the attack have risen to a least 400 dead, according to information gathered by the foundation. Burkina Faso now has more than two million displaced people.

According to ACN sources, who have closely followed the situation in the country, the terrorists are attempting to divide the population, which is otherwise known for its harmony between Muslims and Christians. The Catholic Church is doing everything it can to maintain these good relations.

In response to the escalating violence, ACN has stepped up its emergency aid to Burkina Faso in recent years. Faced with the immense suffering and the significant needs of the Burkinabe population, which have been largely ignored by the international community, several of ACN’s national offices have chosen to dedicate their Christmas campaign to this West African country.

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