32 people died due to rains in Central America: The Catholic Church asks for solidarity

The intense rains that have hit Central America since the beginning of June have left a devastating toll, with at least 30 people dead and serious damage to infrastructure and crops. In the midst of this tragedy, the Catholic Church has responded with a message of hope and the implementation of aid projects for affected communities.

In El Salvador, the director of Civil Protection, Luis Alonso Amaya, confirmed that 19 people lost their lives, including 11 men, 3 women and 5 minors. In addition, approximately 4,200 people sought refuge in shelters provided by the authorities, although the situation is beginning to normalize.

In Honduras, local media They reported three fatalities and a large number of people affected by the heavy rains. Meanwhile, in Guatemala, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction reported of 10 dead and more than 3,000 people affected.

In these countries, the Catholic Church has initiated projects to help those in need, such as in El Salvador, where the Social Pastoral is active and has asked for the collaboration of the population to assist those who need it.

Mons. Luigi Roberto Cona, Apostolic Nuncio in El Salvador, has visited affected communities “with the intention of bringing hope and strength to families affected by the storm.”

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the nuncio commented that in this first response they brought food aid for those who “have lost everything: they have lost their house, who has also lost what they had planted. (In many communities) the economic damage is very great.”

He indicated that with the savings of the apostolic nunciature and the collaboration of national Caritas, food bags have been prepared that can sustain the affected families for at least 15 days.

In addition, Bishop Cona noted that he is seeking support from “Vatican institutions” to help communities plant family gardens.

“The harvest has been damaged, but we can help them plant again so that they can live off what they harvest in the future,” the nuncio mentioned.

At the same time, Bishop Cona called for help to the victims: “How can we sleep peacefully in our comfortable rooms while there are people outside who have nothing? It is time for solidarity, a Christian virtue that brings us closer to those who need a hand, encouragement and courage.”

To the victims in Central America, the nuncio asked them not to “lose courage,” and recalled that “the Lord is with us and we have to move forward, life goes on and we always have to have confidence in the grace, in the mercy of God”.