Young Salesian volunteers take part in support efforts

(MissionNewswire) Salesians continue to support those impacted by flooding in the city of Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The worst weather-related disaster in its history left entire neighborhoods under water, power outages and disrupted communications. Families suffered devastating losses, with homes destroyed, furniture and personal belongings washed away, and urban infrastructure severely damaged.

Salesians immediately organized to help affected families. In a letter to all communities, Sister Silvia Boullosa, provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Argentina, highlighted the dedication of students, alumni, and staff who came together to draw water from the school and cook meals for those hit hardest.

Days after the disaster, Father Guillermo Tanos, director of the Emmaus Salesian House and rector of the Salesian University of Argentina, shared a message about the Salesian Family in Bahía Blanca. He noted, “We are accompanying and sharing the suffering of our people, deeply affected by this tragedy.” Since the day of the flooding, communities across the area have opened soup kitchens in neighborhoods served by the Don Bosco–La Piedad parish. The response — especially from young Salesian volunteers — has been overwhelming.

Coordinating donations and distributing aid remained a major challenge, but Salesians continued to show unwavering solidarity and support. Donations have poured in from across the country, and volunteers of all ages have offered their time to help support the efforts.

“We are proud and grateful for the solidarity and dedication of so many young people in our communities,” said Fr. Tanos “They were the first to step up and meet the most vulnerable — not just bringing warm meals, but also offering closeness and hope in the most devastated corners. We feel sorrow for the suffering of our people in Bahía, but we have deep faith in our Salesian mission.”

Adrián Mandará, general director of the Salesian Houses of Higher Education, concluded, “Once again, Argentina has responded with incredible generosity to the urgent needs of those suffering most.”

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37% and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12% of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20% need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Argentina – The Salesian Family of Bahía Blanca Stands by the People After Devastating Floods

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina