Reminder to return lenten donations - Trócaire

Trócaire is once again reminding supporters across the region to return their Lenten donations as soon as possible in order to provide life-saving support for almost eight million people facing starvation in Somalia.

Trócaire’s biggest fundraising campaign of the year, which finished on Easter Sunday last (April 9th), focused on the plight of millions of women, men and children in Somalia where the worst drought in four decades, fuelled by climate change, has devastated the country.

Caoimhe de Barra, Trócaire’s CEO, says that the money now raised will save lives, not just in Somalia, but in many of the other countries where Trócaire works.

Trócaire runs the main healthcare and hospital system to people in the Gedo region - an area roughly the size of Ireland. In this region, Trócaire runs four hospitals, five health centres, three TB centres, eleven primary health units and seven mobile clinics, supporting severely malnourished children and expectant mothers, Caoimhe de Barra said.

Trócaire treats an average of 22,000 people every month at our hospitals and clinics. It is estimated that nearly half of Somalias children are now malnourished and at least one child dies every day. The number of malnourished children presenting at Trócaire health facilities has more than trebled in recent months.

LIVE-SAVING SUPPORT

Caoimhe de Barra said that people have always been amazingly supportive of their Lenten Appeal, raising over €158,000 for the appeal last year.

“I want to thank them for their continued solidarity with those we support in Somalia and elsewhere. I would appeal to people to return their donations as soon as possible so we can continue to provide life-saving support to the people who rely on our work overseas.

You can count what is in your Trócaire Box and donate the equivalent amount online, over the phone or via post. Also many parishes may still have their own local arrangements in place for collecting Trócaire boxes.

HOW TO RETURN YOUR DONATION

Return your box or envelope to your local parish or Trócaire centre: Trócaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare or 9 Cook Street, Cork. You can also donate by visiting www.trocaire. org or calling 1800 408 408.

(Photo: David O’Hare, Trócaire) Ambiyo, her husband Mahat, and their children, who featured on this year’s Trócaire Box, outside their shelter in the Boyle IDP camp in Gedo region, Somalia. A final call has been made as a reminder for people to return any monies that were collected for the 2023 campaign.