Thousands of Syrians Aided by Salesians since Earthquake

Thousands of Syrians Aided by Salesians since February’s Earthquake

(ANS – Aleppo, Syria – June 15, 2023) – Four months after the earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, thousands of people are still living on the streets. The consequences of the powerful earthquake have been aggravated by the state of decay many buildings are in, due to 12 years of civil war in the country. From the beginning, the Salesians of Aleppo opened the doors of Don Bosco House to help the population. Salesian solidarity around the world has allocated almost €2.4 million for the emergency projects developed so far. During this month, most emergency projects will come to a conclusion to make room for reconstruction, educational projects, and summer camps for young people affected by the earthquake.

“The situation is calmer now. The need is still great, but in these months we have helped many people,” the Salesians from Aleppo report. “Emergency projects will end this month to make room for reconstruction and other educational and care projects for children and youths. We continue to work on psychological assistance and overcoming trauma,” they explain.

Misiones Salesianas in Madrid alone has sent more than €400,000 for essential projects and assistance to displaced people. “In Syria we find ourselves in a situation of critical poverty due to the war and the earthquake,” reports Mateo Colmenares, a young Salesian volunteer stationed in Aleppo. “The basic salary in the country is 150,000 lire (€55), but two hours of light a day for a week costs 100,000 Syrian lire.”

The aid given over these months covers all types of aid, from the reception of almost 800 people at the Salesian center in Aleppo, to the distribution of daily food during Ramadan in the most remote villages, to the repair of damaged houses and academic assistance to young people, to the distribution of vouchers for food, electricity, and basic necessities.

In detail: “The delivery of a monthly economic voucher of almost 400,000 Syrian lire to 224 families; the assistance with engineers and laborers to 40 families for the reconstruction of their homes; help got 116 families with a single voucher for electricity of 400,000 lire; the distribution of vouchers for purchases worth 300,000 lire to 220 needy families,” the Salesians testify.

But Salesian aid to the earthquake victims went much further: “We helped 300 families with the purchase of medicine and another 100 people with health advice (mainly cardiologists and ophthalmologists). We have also provided school assistance to children between 10 and 16 years of age thanks to our youth centers, helped 900 children and university students in our settings to pay school fees, and supported 600 children in obtaining school supplies, ”says Mr. Colmenares.

A few weeks ago, thanks to an agreement with a shoe factory, the Salesians distributed 800 pairs of shoes through a voucher for people in need in the city. “In addition, for two months we have provided food to 300 people in Kafroun, and we are currently distributing 450 vouchers to do shopping at the market,” the Salesians added.

In the coming months they will be busy setting up summer camps for children. More than a thousand children will be involved. A Salesian theme is envisaged, designed to help them overcome psychological traumas. They will receive completely free transport, food, snacks, and teaching materials.

Even after all these efforts, the Salesians have no intention of slowing down: “We will continue with educational projects and give priority to teaching languages, because 90% of young people leave the country: boys, to avoid military service, which can be indefinite and take them to war; and girls, because they do not have professional opportunities in Syria.”

Source: Misiones Salesianas