Caritas ‘shocked’ by murder of director in Democratic Republic of Congo September 24, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News The director of Caritas in Congo was shot and killed by an armed militant group while approaching a roadblock, Caritas Internationalis announced.
Amid dramatic scenes of floods sweeping through entire villages, Polish Catholics rush to help September 23, 2024By Agnieszka Bugala OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News As Poland was bracing for the biggest catastrophe since 1997 when the so-called “flood of the millennium” killed 114 people in Poland, Czech Republic and Germany, volunteers and help, including loads of supplies and money from Catholic charities, poured into the region to ease the pain of the people who lost everything.
Nigeria’s Diocese of Maiduguri appeals for aid as floods strike former Boko Haram epicenter September 20, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News Catholic leaders in northeastern Nigeria appealed for prayers and humanitarian support as devastating floods engulfed Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, known as the epicenter of the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram’s insurgency.
Historic Franciscan monastery under water as southwestern Poland suffers disastrous floods September 16, 2024By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News Poland’s government is preparing a decree of a state of natural disaster as the southwestern part of the country was severely flooded by torrential rains caused by Storm Boris.
Pope expresses solidarity with Vietnam flood victims; local Caritas agency rushes to help September 13, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News More than 100 people, including a Catholic religious sister, are still listed as missing after Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, left at least 233 dead in northern Vietnam.
As wildfires rage in Bolivia, bishops warn of lasting damage to ‘Mother Earth’ September 11, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Environment, News, World News The bishops of Bolivia urged the country’s authorities to act quickly in staving off irreparable harm to people and the environment as raging wildfires continue to devastate millions of acres.
CEO of 9/11-related foundation reflects on service to first responders, vets, families September 11, 2024By Beth Griffin OSV News Filed Under: 9/11, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The passage of 23 years has only strengthened Frank Siller’s resolve that first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the soldiers lost in the war that followed will never be forgotten.
Kenya mourns 21 young boys killed in academy dormitory fire September 9, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As Kenya mourned the 21 young boys killed in a school dormitory fire Sept. 6 in Kieni, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri said the church was heartbroken and urged Christians to stay close to the affected families.
Flash flooding temporarily closes Lourdes’ grotto September 9, 2024By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News River flooding forced the temporary closure of the famous grotto at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France.
Parishes respond with prayer, outreach amid historic Northeast floods August 21, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News Catholics in Connecticut are working to help those impacted by what one lawmaker described as “historic, unprecedented flooding” Aug. 18-19 that took two lives and forced hundreds to flee for safety.
World Humanitarian Day highlights tragic record sacrifice of aid workers in war zones August 19, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News As the world commemorates World Humanitarian Day 2024, the latest figures on the dire circumstances aid workers face on the frontline highlight the alarming increase in attacks against them and their work to relieve the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
Sudanese humanitarian situation ‘can’t wait,’ says bishop; military evacuates last missionaries August 19, 2024By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News On the first day of talks in Geneva aimed at ending the 16-month Sudanese conflict, a Catholic bishop in the region stressed that addressing the humanitarian situation in the northeast African country cannot not wait for “tomorrow.”