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CAFOD

A global response to a global crisis: How CAFOD responded to the coronavirus pandemic

11 March 2022
UK - Plymouth - Cornwall G7 2021 - Cancel the Debt placard at vaccines protest - Liam Finn

Thousands of CAFOD supporters have called for debt cancellation so people in marginalised communities can access healthcare and vaccines

As the coronavirus pandemic swept around the world, CAFOD worked quickly with Church partners to coordinate our response to launch our Coronavirus Appeal. Your donations have helped communities survive lockdowns and prevent coronavirus.

This work depends on our network of local experts, volunteers and community carers. They are known, they are trusted, and they can get help to people, fast – even in the most remote places and difficult situations.

As we all start to return to normal, we want to say a heartfelt thank you. Your support, prayers and donations are helping to transform the lives of those affected by the pandemic, all around the world. This work would not be possible without you.

How your donations make a difference 

We are truly humbled by the generosity of our volunteers and supporters to our Coronavirus Appeal. So far, you have given over £7 million and have helped support work in 35 countries.

Thank you for reaching out to our global family during such difficult times. Your donations have made such a difference and are continuing to do so. 

You have helped to:

  • Raise awareness and prevent misinformation: 3,225 community volunteers spread awareness locally 

  • Provide clean water and food

  • Provide medical supplies such as face masks, PPE, and oxygen tanks

  • Provide support services for our church partners working with communities, such as training for priests and hospital chaplains and enhanced IT systems

  • Help increase capacity of local healthcare workers: 1,087 clinical staff and community health care workers were trained in the management of coronavirus responses 

Asia - India - Coronavirus response in India

CAFOD supported Caritas India's response to the second wave of coronavirus in the country

India

We pledged £400,000 to our long-term partners and supported Caritas India. Thanks to your donations, they were able to, and continue to, support some of the most vulnerable households in India by:

  • providing PPE to frontline health workers

  • distributing medical kits to people with manageable symptoms  

  • setting up safely run isolation and quarantine centres  

  • promoting lifesaving Covid and vaccine information

Syria

The civil war in Syria has left an estimated 6.5 million people homeless inside the country. Now they face the threat of coronavirus when many cannot socially distance, access healthcare, or find clean water.

We are working with local aid experts in unregistered displaced peoples camps to construct Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WaSH) facilities and distribute PPE to prevent the spread of the virus. In other areas we are supporting our local aid teams to distribute food, hygiene kits and cash to allow the most vulnerable families survive lockdown measures.

DEC Coronavirus Appeal - Water and hygiene in camps in response to coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has meant millions of people in Syria are at risk from the virus and from overstretched health services.

South Sudan

We have been working with local church radio networks and aid experts to deliver vital hygiene messages via radio, in hard-to-reach areas. Community groups are translating these messages into local languages so that they can be heard and understood by as many people as possible.

We are also working with women’s groups to protect women of all ages from the risk of domestic violence during lockdown.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

We have been working with faith leaders to raise awareness about coronavirus through TV, radio and megaphones - helping more families survive the pandemic through targeted distribution of hygiene kits. We have provided emergency food, clean, safe water and housing to families who have fled fighting and are vulnerable to coronavirus in eastern DR Congo.

How is CAFOD responding across Africa?

Health and prevention advice are also being shared when our staff and volunteers are giving out soap and emergency food packages to vulnerable families in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya, to ensure that those at particular risk of the virus can survive this crisis.

Your donations have also funded PPE for medical staff at clinics in Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone.

How is CAFOD responding across Asia and the Middle East?

In the Middle East, our local experts are using your donations to continue their vital peacebuilding work and ensuring that legal advice can be given online.

Volunteers and priests are delivering emergency food parcels to vulnerable families in the West Bank and we are also reaching out to Bedouin communities with health equipment and information.

Staff and volunteers are also in vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. They are spreading essential health messages through village posters, socially-distanced visits to families and giving out PPE.

Coronavirus - Asia - Sri Lanka - food and hygiene packages to vulnerable families

Food and hygiene packages have been distributed to households headed by women, including people living with disabilities, daily wage earners, and families from minority religious and ethnic groups who are often subjected to exploitation and discrimination.