internet
Guayaquil (Agenzia Fides) - The campaign "levantemos Ecuador Juntos" (Let’s put Ecuador back on its feet) has just begun, promoted by Caritas of the Archdiocese of Portoviejo together with a major company operating in the retail sector in 81 cities in Ecuador, Tia. The campaign, according to information sent to Fides, provides for the delivery of 3 million bricks to rebuild housing destroyed by the earthquake for the most needy families, who now do not even have a place to sleep. The campaign was launched yesterday by His Exc. Mgr. Luis Cabrera Herrera, Archbishop of Guayaquil, and other leaders of the initiative. The situation in the north coast of the country is still terrible, almost two weeks after the terrible earthquake on 16 April (see Fides 18 and 20/04/2016). The latest government report indicates 659 dead, 17,638 injured, 48 missing. Other numbers indicate a real social emergency: 27,732 people were assisted in hospitals and emergency health centers. About 29,067 are homeless, and rescuers are still unable to reach small towns. Those most severely damaged cities are: Manta, Portoviejo, Pedernales, Bahía, Jama y Canoa. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 29/04/2016)
ASIA/SYRIA - An office opened in Raqqa to "protect" the properties of Christians in north-east Syria