AMERICA/COLOMBIA - The Bishop of Quibdó thanks for the aid collected and distributed during the pandemic and the winter period

Tuesday, 5 January 2021 coronavirus poverty human rights local churches indigenous

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Quibdó (Agenzia Fides) - Mgr. Juan Carlos Barreto Barreto, Bishop of the diocese of Quibdó, thanked the benefactors who supported communities in need during the Covid-19 pandemic and winter period. Quibdó is a municipality in Colombia, the capital of Chocó department, located in the western part of the country and known for its large Afro-Colombian population. Despite the existence of untapped natural resources, the population has one of the lowest living standards of any Colombian department. The region has long suffered from violence, the absence of the state, corruption and armed conflict. The diocese, together with local organizations and representatives of the indigenous peoples, has repeatedly denounced the situation and demands respect for the human rights of the population and the commitment of the state (see Fides, 13/1/2020; 15/4/2020; 10/ 6/2020).
"During this Christmas season and at the end of 2020 - reads the letter sent to Fides - the Diocese of Quibdó sincerely thanks all the people, institutions and organizations who have supported our pastoral mission in this difficult year. In particular, we would like to thank those who, in cooperation with us, have given and are offering a contribution to alleviating the fears of many families in connection with the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic".
With the help of donations, thousands of safety and hygiene kits, packs of potatoes and sugar were distributed to the families of the 30 parishes in the department, as well as financial aid, the bishop said. "We are very grateful to all the benefactors who have entrusted their donations to the diocese in order to fulfill this humanitarian commitment", writes the Bishop, who notes: "We are aware of the great needs of this territory and of the context in which we find ourselves, which requires structural changes. Many of them we promote together with social and ethnic-territorial organizations.
Finally, the Bishop wishes "all people and institutions that have given us a hand in making the presence of God who loves us feel close to us", merry Christmas and hopes that the New Year can continue, "to work together to build a better world". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 5/1/2021)