LATEST UPDATE: April, 2011

The people of Japan are facing their most difficult moment in recent history.

Caritas has been giving out blankets and supporting parishes in providing food. It is providing counsellors to help people cope with the trauma in the long-term and is also making plans for reconstruction.

"The Japanese people keep offering each other encouragement at this difficult time. Everyone keeps saying to each other "Ganbaro!" Which would mean in English "Keep your spirits up!," says Fr Daisuke Narui, Executive Director of Caritas Japan. Caritas Japan has launched a national donation campaign and is working closely with dioceses to support those affected. "We have received so many emails from all continents, filled with words of compassion and prayer. We are very grateful. We believe that aid activity is needed, but prayer is also important," said Bishop Isao Kikuchi, president of Caritas Japan.

- Updates received from Caritas Internationalis

BACKGROUND

Japan was struck on March 11 by one of the largest earthquakes to ever hit the country, followed by a massive tsunami that devastated coastal regions of the country. At present, approximately 3,500 people are reported dead with thousands more missing.

We have received a number of calls about this crisis at the ShareLife Office and we would like to make you aware of funding matters related to the relief efforts in Japan. Caritas Internationalis, the Catholic Church's official international relief organization, issued a statement today to the global members of the Caritas network indicating that no emergency appeal is being issued at this time. At present, Caritas Japan has not requested assistance.

Should this situation change and an appeal be issued, we will keep you apprised.

There has been a desire in the Archdiocese of Toronto to make contributions to relief efforts in solidarity with the people of Japan. To assist this process, the ShareLife office is accepting contributions should you wish to help. Funds will be forwarded through Development and Peace (the Caritas representative in Canada) to Caritas Japan. There, they will be held in trust to support rehabilitation and recovery needs in that country as they emerge over the next three to five years. There is no clear indication at this time how the funds will be used.

Those wishing to help through a financial contribution may do so in the following ways:
• Online through ShareLife's website: www.sharelife.org
• By phone through the ShareLife office: 1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411
• Through the parish, making cheques payable to: ShareLife - Parish Name - Earthquake - Japan

We offer our prayers for the millions of people in Japan affected by this disaster, those who have died and those who will persevere and rebuild their homes and lives. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to serve those in need, both here at home and around the world.

LATEST UPDATE: December, 2011

Parishioners, students and businesspeople across the Archdiocese of Toronto generously raised $793,108 for famine victims in the Horn of Africa region prior to the federal government's cut-off date (September 15) for matching gifts. 

The worst droughts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia in 60 years have left at least 10 million people in need of aid. As well, Tanzania and the new state of South Sudan are experiencing serious food and water shortages.

The ShareLife Office has been accepting donations for relief efforts in East Africa. Working with our partners at the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development & Peace/Caritas Canada, funds will be channelled to Caritas organizations on the ground. With your support, Caritas Ethiopia is helping to alleviate the suffering of 65,000 vulnerable individuals. Its program - which includes amongst other activities, the distribution of food, seeds and livestock, the trucking of water, treatment for malnutrition, the development of irrigation systems, farmer training, income-generating activities and the rehabilitation of boreholes – is aimed at reaching the most vulnerable households, particularly poor farmers, female-headed households, the elderly and sick, and the landless. At this stage, activities will last until April 2012 and will cost an estimated $2 million. 

The Archdiocese of Toronto will continue to collect funds, though contributions will no longer be eligible for the government's matching program.

LATEST UPDATE: January 11, 2011

Development and Peace (D&P), ShareLife's humanitarian relief partner, just published its one-report for the work it has been doing in Haiti. Highlights of the report are as follows:

- In the first 6 months of the emergency, (D&P) through Caritas, its partner on the ground in Haiti, provided humanitarian assistance (food, water, tents, mobile clinics) to more than 2.3 million Haitian men and women;

- D&P spent $5 million on emergency and reconstruction projects of its 25 partners in Haiti and committed an extra $10 million for the next 3 years;

- A 5-year reconstruction program is already being planned together with local grassroots and civil society organizations in Haiti;

- A solidarity fund was established to enable D&P partners' staff to get back to work and is also providing financial aid for rebuilding their offices and replacing essential equipment;

- Reconstruction of 1700 houses in areas directly affected by the earthquake;

- Helping children directly affected by the earthquake to return to school and rebuilding a primary school for 850 students;

- Supporting women's organizations that are taking action on the issue of protecting women and children in the IDP camps;

- Distributed seeds to more than 20,500 farming families and is currently mplementing a major 3-year program to strengthen the food security of farmers;

- The National Human Rights Defence Network (RNDDH) works on defending, promoting and protecting human rights in post-earthquake Haiti; it also promotes a state of law, has participated in election monitoring, etc;

- Strengthening communications in order to ensure that the viewpoint of civil society is known to the public and to better inform communities about reconstruction and disaster-prevention issues.

For more details on the initiatives being done for Haiti, please click here to visit the D&P Haiti Report website.

BACKGROUND

Late night on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, its strongest in more than 200 years, causing massive damage and loss of lives. An estimated 3 million people may have been affected by the quake and aftershocks are still being felt. Tens of thousands of people appear to have lost their homes and many perished in several collapsed buildings. As rescue efforts continue and emergency response teams work with the victims of this disaster, relief efforts are underway around the world.