(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at the Salesian Mission Office in Warsaw, Poland, have launched the “COVID-Help. Let’s not leave them alone” campaign to help support Salesian programs around the globe. To date, more than 45,000 euros have been collected through the campaign to fund the purchase of food for those who have been impacted by COVID-19 at 18 Salesian programs in countries including India, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Cameroon, Zambia, Liberia, Sudan, Argentina and Mexico.

Salesian Father Michał Wziętek, who works in Zambia, said, “Here there are more and more street children. People have lost their jobs and have no money, and therefore, do not shop as before. Since the children do not go to school, they are sent by their parents to the streets to beg or make small sales, hoping to garner the pity of a passersby. If a child does not bring anything home, there will be no dinner, and they will all go to bed hungry.”

Father Paweł Kociołek works in Bangladesh. In Joypurhat, he has distributed 320 kilos of rice, 160 kilos of dal and 80 liters of oil to 80 families living in the slums. He also provided milk for the children and helped the villagers.

In Liberia, food was distributed to people who live in the Matami slum. Father Krzysztof Niżniak said, “Three Salesians are active here and distributed food to the poorest. The situation in Liberia is difficult. They introduced a rigid lockdown, from 3:00 p.m. you can no longer go anywhere. Even the Salesians must be careful. Prices are constantly rising.”

The Salesians in Poland also sent help to Mexico. Brother Sebastian Marcisz noted, “We mainly buy rice, beans and corn to be delivered to those who need it most. The situation is very difficult, especially in the state of Oaxaca. Locals and indigenous people who live in the high mountains now face the problem of absolute food shortages. The help that we can offer to these people thanks to the Salesians and donors in Poland has been inestimable for them.”

Sister Teresa, who works in Sudan, reported on the worsening situation in Khartoum and refugee camps. She said, “The big problem is bread. Either it is missing or it is very expensive. The conditions in the camps are catastrophic in all respects, people are dying of hunger.”

Salesian missionaries in Poland and around the globe are working to respond to poor youth and people impacted by COVID-19 and the lockdowns which have caused people to lose their jobs and means to provide for themselves and their families. Missionaries continue to assess needs and provide relief supplies to those most in need.

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Sources:

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ANS – Poland – Missionaries supported in the fight against Covid-19