AFRICA/CHAD - Salesian missionaries: with the compassion of Jesus, alongside families impoverished by the food crisis

Saturday, 25 June 2022 evangelization   solidarity  

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Doba (Agenzia Fides) - "How will families without work survive in the face of the serious food emergency that affects the country? This was the general concern and at the same time the impulse that motivated us to act: to experience closeness and compassion as Jesus did. After a year and a half, our work not only continues, but has also increased. With the commitment of thousands of volunteers throughout the country, this project will allow immediate access to food, with the distribution of essential products, giving relief to thousands of families in this dramatic situation". This is what Father Benoit Nzie, Salesian and parish priest of Doba in the small complex of San Domenico Savio reports to Fides, speaking of the new project for the protection of the right to food that the Salesian missionaries have promoted in favor of families affected by the consequences of the food crisis affecting many African countries, including Chad. "In Chad, 43% of children under the age of five are malnourished and 66% live below the poverty line", says Father Benoit. "Precariousness affects the most important areas of a democratic state: school, public health and work. The local situation - observes the missionary - is one of the most disastrous on the planet, while almost the entire population has difficulties in accessing education and health". "Furthermore - he continues -, the country continues to live in a climate of great political instability, after the assassination, a year ago, of President Idriss Deby Itno, caused by injuries sustained on the front in the Kanem region, where the national army is carrying out an operation against the paramilitary organization of the Front for Alternation and Concord (FACT)".
The Salesians arrived in the country in 1995. Their first work was established in Sarh. The city, the third largest in the country, is located in the south of the country and has more than 120,000 inhabitants. Three years later they began their work in the capital, N'Djamena, and in 2013 they began work in the city of Doba. Hence the call of the Salesians to support the project. "Our goal - he concludes - is to provide assistance to families across the country, continue to provide food assistance to the most disadvantaged families, and support the education of thousands of children and young people". (ES/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2022)


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