Caritas Somalia

For those of you who would like to know about the work of the Catholic Church in Somalia, and for those of you who wish to support this work, please read this article. Your prayers and financial help for the Church's work in Somalia will be greatly appreciated. For further information about Caritas Somalia and/or to make donations, please see Caritas Somalia's contact details below. RCMSomalia

Organisation Name: Caritas Somalia

Address: Evêché.

B.P. n. 94.

Djibouti,

République de Djibouti

Email: caritassomalia@gmail.com

Phone: +253 21350140

Fax: +253 21354831

Short History of Organisation:

·         Caritas Somalia was created on the 13/02/1980. 

·         On the 01/01/1983 Caritas Somalia was affiliated officially with Caritas Internationalis.

·         On the 17/08/1988 Caritas Somalia was recognized officially by Somalia’s Ministry of Interior as a "Local Association” that has as its goals the help of the poor and the achievement of developmental projects.

·         From 1991 to 2001 the site of Caritas Somalia was in Nairobi, Kenya, from 2001 it moved to Djibouti, due to political and ecclesiastical changes.

·         From 1991 up to now Caritas Somalia has worked in Somalia either directly, with its own personnel, or through local Somali NGOs. 

Description of Programs & Campaigns: 

Through effective relationships with partners and local communities, Caritas Somalia helps to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Caritas Somalia continues to support local partners to implement multi-sectoral response for the local population and IDPs to respond to damages caused by drought, famine and armed conflict. The areas of intervention usually cover several IDP camps in Mogadishu, theAfgoye corridor and closed villages (Boqoley, Mordinle, Lafoole and Mererey), the town of Baidoa, Berdale and Brava, and some rural villages along the Juba River (Gobwein, Yontoy, Bulaguduud). In Somaliland we have been also supporting a number of projects particularly in the Awdal region.

Caritas Somalia is present in some part of the country through the work of Somali NGOs, born after the outbreak of the civil war. Our mission is to help people survive the conflict status and cope with the drought emergency. Caritas Somalia approaches humanitarian and development programs which directly address the poorest and most vulnerable individuals. In cooperation with our partners, we make sure that beneficiaries fully participate in the activities and have access to basic necessities in respect of their dignity.

Lack of public authorities and economic instability has encouraged the local communities’ private initiative in re-organising the former public services. According to their financial ability, with the support of the international community and the Somali Diaspora, the civil society runs schools, hospitals and supports local business. We encourage the involvement of the community committees in our projects, to strengthen the local governance and promote advocacy for the needs of the poorest people.

With regards to the mission of our Somali partners and regarding our attention in financing activities directly addressed to the most vulnerable people, we evaluate project proposals and we follow up the effective implementation of them.

In particular, we focus on the following areas:

ü  Hunger: we respond to food emergency in providing monthly food supplies; especially to IDPs in Mogadishu and south Somalia. We also support feeding programs in community health centres for children and pregnant women.

ü  Emergency: during the rainy season, our local partners assist flood affected and drought affected IDPs with tents, mosquito nets and blanket distribution in IDP camps in Mogadishu.

ü  Education: we support the fees of two schools in Mogadishu and several in the Somaliland region, in order to give equal opportunity to those who cannot afford an education because of their poor condition. The projects also aim to improve access to schooling for girls and the quality of teachers.

ü  Health: Caritas Somalia funds the construction and the operating costs of three medical centres in the Mogadishu area dedicated to IDPs. The health centres provide medicines, first aid, child health and pregnancy care.

ü  Aid to development: through income generating programs, our partners help local communities in south Somalia in developing agriculture and fishing, improving water supply and sanitation, providing micro-credits to sustain small business; especially addressed to vulnerable women.

Description of Organizational Structure (Number of Diocesan Members, Nationwide Staff and Volunteers):

Caritas Somalia’s head office is in Djibouti.  Caritas Somalia is composed currently of the President, Mgr Giorgio Bertin, and his assistant "Project Manager" Giovanni Parrino.

Other Caritas Partnerships: 

During the drought that struck Somalia in 2011-2012, Caritas Somalia had received funds from many National Caritas branches and from other organisations. 

Our principal partners are: Caritas Mona, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Spain, and Kindermissionwerk.

Merry Christmas from RCMSomalia

“Haddaba dhalashadii Ciise Masiix sidaan ayay ahayd: hooyadiis Maryan intay u doonanayd Yuusuf, oo aanay weli isla aqal gelin, waxaa la arkay iyadoo Ruuxa Qudduska ka uuraysatay. Ninkeedii Yuusuf wuxuu ahaa nin xaq ah, mana doonaynin inuu iyada sumcad xumo u soo jiido, kolkaasuu ku tashaday inuu si qarsoodi ah iyada iskaga fogeeyo. Laakiin intuu weli waxyaalahan oo dhan ka fikirayay, bal eeg, malaa’igtii Rabbiga ayaa riyo ugu muuqatay, iyadoo leh: ‘Yuusuf, ina Daa’uudow, ha ka baqin inaad Maryan afadaa ahaan u qaadatid. Waayo, waxa ay uuraysatay ayaa Ruuxa Qudduska ka yimid. Waxay dhali doontaa wiil, adiguna waxaad ugu yeeri doontaa magaca Ciise, waayo, ummaddiisa ayuu dembiyadeeda ka badbaadin doonaa.’ 

Haddaba waxaan oo dhan waxay u dhaceen si uu u fulo wixii Rabbiga afka nebiga ku sheegay, isagoo leh: ‘Bal eeg, cadradda way uuraysan doontaa, waxayna dhali doontaa wiil, oo waxay magaciisa u bixin doonaan Emmanu’eel, oo loo turjumo: Ilaah baa inala jira.’ 

Yuusuf intuu hurdada ka kacay, ayuu yeelay wixii malaa’igtii Rabbiga ku amartay, oo Maryan ayuu afadiisa ahaan u qaatay oo isagu ma uu garanaynin iyada ilaa ay ka dhashay wiil, wuxuuna u bixiyey magaca Ciise.” Matayos 1: 18-25

A very merry, blessed and holy Christmas to all our readers, supporters and for those who pray for Somalia and the Church in this country. May the Infant Jesus and His Blessed Mother bless and protect you and may they bring that peace we all so long for to you and to Somalia. Despite the Somali Government's ban on Christmas please join me in praying for all those faithful Somali Christians who will nonetheless recieve quietly into their hearts that King Who was born so quietly on that night for us all in Bethlehem. God bless RCMS

The work of Annalena Tonelli is still alive 10 years after her murder

Taken from FIDES News Agency read the original article here.

"Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - 10 years have gone by since the killing of Annalena Tonelli, the Italian volunteer who for 33 years had assisted the Somali population affected by tuberculosis. Annalena was killed on the evening of October 5, 2003 in the care home she founded in Boroma in Somaliland (northern Somalia) by two armed men (see Fides 06/10/2003) .

In June of the same year she was awarded the Nansen Refugee Award, the award given each year by the High Commissioner for the United Nations (UNHCR) to individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves for "outstanding service to the cause of refugees".

"I left for Africa determined to shout the Gospel in the wake of Charles de Foucauld" Annalena had told Fides Agency (see Fides 25 June 2002). "I am not a doctor. I have a degree in law even if it is true that I have some certificates and diplomas in medicine. However I am an advisor of the World Health Organization in the field of Tuberculosis Control. I am also a pioneer of the Global Policy launched by WHO in 1993 for the control of Tuberculosis in the world called DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short chemotherapy)".

This is how Annalena had described the challenges she faced every day: "TB is one of the first opportunistic infections that HIV patients contract in endemic areas such as Somalia. Terminally ill AIDS patients come to us because they suffer from tuberculosis. While we take care of tuberculosis we also treat all our opportunistic infections that patients contract due to their weak immune system".

In Borama hospital and the school for deaf children she had founded, her work continues, as reported by the documentary made for the occasion by the UNHCR which was recently screened in Nairobi. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 08/10/2013)"

Pray for Somalia!

Evangelical Mission only answer to al-Shabaab violence

The following article is taken from AsiaNews.it, the full article can be read here from its original source. In the light of recent events, the urgence of finding a lasting and effective solution to the ever growing threat of Islamic extremism becomes ever more important. As human methods seem to provide no solution, the answer becomes more and more clear- the only real way to deal with Islamic extremism, the only real way to stop terrorism, is to preach the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the True Prince of Peace. Please pray for Somalia, for the persecuted Christians in this land, for all the long suffering peoples of this nation, and please pray for the conversion of al-Shabaab and all other Islamic extremists.-RCMS 

Somali Christians in Mogadishu

"Evangelical Mission only answer to al-Shabaab violence:

by Simone Cantarini

Bishop Giorgio Bertin talks about the Church's witness in the land where al-Qaeda's most violent terrorists are born. For the prelate, "bearing witness to the Gospel means giving oneself to God's initiative, participating with Christians in the hopes and the suffering of the whole population."

Rome ( AsiaNews) - "From Somalia to Iraq, including Egypt and Syria, Christians are often persecuted and flee. Many consider them as something alien from the Muslim majority. Several extremist religious leaders try to hinder their presence and existence in these countries, which are often the only opposition to the hatred and violence imposed by the ideologies of Islamic extremists," said Mgr Giorgio Bertin, bishop of Djibouti and apostolic administrator of Mogadishu. For years, the bishop has cared for the small Catholic communities in the two countries, who live in an environment dominated by Islamic extremism, anarchy and terrorist violence.

"In Somalia," he said, "the population is victim of the chaos and cruelty caused by Islamic courts and the al-Shabaab movement, which exports terrorists all over the world."

On Saturday, the terrorist group fighting to establish an Islamic state in the Horn of Africa attacked the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi ( Kenya), taking hundreds of hostages for three days. The assault by at least 20 terrorists ended with over 60 people dead and hundreds injured.

"From Somalia to Iraq, Christians are often considered something alien from the Muslim majority and experience strong social pressure because of their presence," Mgr Bertin noted.

"We fear," he explained, "fanatical groups that pursue a religious ideology that does not represent the thoughts and ideas of the majority of the population. Somalia is an example of how some areas of the Middle East could become in the event of a collapse of the government. If central authorities do not exert their power, they [the al-Shabaab] are free to do whatever they want justify their belligerence by pointing to the Christian presence."

For the prelate, people usually wonder what is the sense of the mission in these countries, where Christians risk their life, places like "Somalia where there are less than 100 Christians" or "Djibouti, which has about 5,000."

"In the West, people are often amazed by these places' numbers: no priests, less than 100 Christians, inability to convert to Christianity. Such figures apparently discourage the Church's mission. However, bearing witness to the Gospel in countries like Somalia means giving oneself to God's initiative, participating with Christians in the hopes and the suffering of the whole population."

"The mission is addressed primarily to Muslims who thanks to the Christian presence often find a new way of life, one that responds with love to the hatred and violence imposed by the ideologies of Islamic extremists," Mgr. Bertin noted.

"Unfortunately," he said, "this approach cannot be measured. Only with faith and hope can we measure the meaning of our presence."

Persecution update: Christian mother killed; boy kidnapped

Oh Sorrowful Mother, standing at the foot of the Cross of thy Divine Son, pray for thy Somali children and all persecuted Christians!

Your prayers are urgently requested for the Christian mother who was killed on September the 1st, as well as for her husband and son who are still alive but in hiding. Please pray too for the boy who has been kidnapped and for his family. Again, Al-Shabaab is suspected to be behind this fresh spate of persecution. The group has vowed to rid Somalia of all Christians and traces of Christianity. Please offer up Masses, Holy Communions, Rosaries and other prayers for these families, as well as for all the heavily persecuted Christians of Somalia. The following article is taken from Christianity Today, and can be read in full at the original site here.-RCMS

"Islamic extremists from the Al-Shabaab rebel group are suspected of killing a Christian woman in one town last week and kidnaping a 13-year-old boy from another, sources said.

According to a story by Morning Star News, the militants, who have vowed to rid Somalia of its underground church, are suspected of killing Fatuma Isak Elmi, 35, on Sept. 1 at about 7:30pm. inside her home in Beledweyne, Hiran Province in south-central Somalia.

Her husband had received a threatening note that morning believed to be from the Islamic extremist group and was away at the time of the murder.

Neighbors were alerted to the killing when they heard Elmi's 4-year-old son crying.

"The neighbors heard a child crying for quite some time," a source told Morning Star News. "After one hour, a close neighbor visited the house and found the child outside still crying." The neighbor, whose identity is withheld for security reasons, told the source that upon entering the house she found Elmi dead.

Elmi's husband, 36-year-old Mumin Omar Abdi, learned of her death when he arrived home at about 10pm. He said he had found a note early that morning that read, "We shall come for you. You are friends with our enemies (Westerners, assumed to be Christians), and you are polluting our religion."

Abdi has fled the area with his son to an undisclosed location, the source said.

Kidnapping:

In the southern Somali town of Qoryoley in the Lower Shebelle Region, two witnesses told Morning Star News they saw armed, masked men from Al-Shabaab kidnap a 13-year-old boy on Sept. 3 as he approached his home on his way back from school.

Mustaf Hassan was kidnapped near Marka District at about 4 p.m., the sources said. He had been staying with a Muslim relative there since last year, when his parents fled the area after they were suspected of being Christians, another source told Morning Star News.

Another source told Morning Star News that the boy's parents, Hassan Mohammed and Farhio Omar, were in great pain and grief upon learning of the kidnapping. "Our son might be killed, and we are also not safe," Mohammed said.

No ransom has been sought, and Christians suspected the rebels may have abducted Mustaf in an effort to find his parents or other Christians.

Mustaf is the nephew of Fartun Omar, shot to death by Al-Shabaab on April 13 in Buulodbarde, 12 miles from Beledweyne.

Morning Star News reported that Omar was the widow of Ahmed Ali Jimale, a 42-year-old father of four, who was killed on Feb. 18 as he stood outside his house in Alanley village on the outskirts of Kismayo..."

"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church"- Tertullian

"I hope in authentic dialogue with regards to the need for everybody to get out of the crisis in Somalia"

The following article is taken from FIDES News Agency. To read the artilce from its original source, click here.

"Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - "Opponents, Shabaab or others, have targeted government and foreign organization representatives and their staff. This is because they want to destabilize the Somali institutions in the reconstruction phase. The new federal government is already destabilized by internal disputes on federalism and other issues" says to Fides Agency His Exc. Mgr. Giorgio Bertin, Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, in the aftermath of the failed attack against Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.

The latter escaped unhurt, on September 3, from an ambush by a commando of Shabaab along the road to Merka, a city that is one hundred kilometers south-west of Mogadishu.

"All this is part of the Somali spirit, which prevails in the pursuit of individual or clan interest" continues Mgr. Bertin. "It is a difficult situation for anyone, starting from the Somalis, including neighboring Countries that take advantage of personal, clan and regional ambitions of the Somalis to promote their interests in the Country".

The Bishop emphasizes, however, that "the situation is not desperate and we must not abandon Somalia. I add, however, that, at least at an international community level, it is necessary to be more compact. In particular, regional powers, especially Kenya and Ethiopia, I hope convince themselves that it is important to have a strong Somali State instead of the current chaotic situation".
"Authentic dialogue is needed in which everyone takes into consideration the interests of all in order to find a comprehensive solution to everyone’s needs", concluded Bishop Bertin. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/09/2013)"

Pray for Somalia.

Urgent prayers needed for the women and children of Somalia

The following article is taken from Fides News Agency, and it highlights the plight of Somali women and children, especially those living in refugee camps. As if all the suffering they already have to go through (war, famine, crippling poverty etc.) was not enough, Somali women, including young girls, are in danger of being sexually abused. This horrible crime seems to be particularly prevalent at the moment, as the article below will make clear. Please offer fervent prayers for the people of Somalia, and particularly for the protection and safety of Somali women and children. Pray too that the teaching of Christ and His Church may permeate Somalia, teaching a reverence and respect for women and a hatred of sin. To read the article from its original source click here.

"Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - More than a million people still live scattered in Somalis refugee camps, among them women and children who live every day at great risk of violence of all kinds. Forced to flee and abandon their homes due to the armed conflict and drought, they are now facing further trauma of living under threats of violence. A statement by the NGO Amnesty International says that many women live in canvas and plastic tents which do not give any kind of security. Some of the victims are young, among them a 14-year-old girl was recently raped in a camp in Mogadishu while she was recovering from a seizure. Few of these abuses and violence are reported to the police, who still do not start legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators. According to local sources, the inability or lack of willingness on behalf of Somali authorities to investigate these crimes and bring to justice the perpetrators leaves survivors of sexual violence even more isolated, and contributes to a climate of impunity. According to the Organization of the United Nations, at least 1,700 cases of violence in refugee camps in Somalia were recorded in 2012, of which at least 70% committed by armed men dressed in Government uniforms. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 02/09/2013)"

In more positive news, FAO Somalia ( Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) reports that despite the persistence of acute malnutrition in Somalia, the numbers of Somalis in 'extreme food crisis' has dropped from 4 million in 2011, to 870 000 today, thanks be to God! Various factors, including more than average rainfall and sustained humanitarian efforts have contributed to the decrease in the numbers of those in 'extreme food crisis'. However, more than 2 million Somalis, a third of the population, remain in a 'fragile food security' situation. Pray for an end to hunger and famine in Somalia, and pray that humanitarian efforts may continue unhindered to help the people of Somalia. But pray especially for an end to conflict and violence so that Somalis can return to the fields and grow the food they so desperately need. Click here to read the FAO Somalia article.