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Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras) and President of Caritas Internationalis, will be presented with an award by the Peruvian Government in recognition of his work to help the victims of the 2007 earthquake in the coastal town of Pisco (Peru), on August 15, 2007, causing the deaths of over 500 people died and leaving over 100,000 homeless. I am honored to receive the award of ‘El Sol del Perù’ on behalf of Caritas Internationalis,” said Cardinal Maradiaga. “It highlights the importance of the work of Caritas, which acts as a beacon of hope to millions of men, women and children in times of disaster and difficulty.”
The President of Caritas Internationalis visited Caritas Peru last year to show solidarity with the earthquake survivors. Caritas Peru made an appeal for US$11 million and initially helped over 55,000 families by providing food, water, tents, medicine, blankets, clothing, mattresses, hygiene kits, and cooking sets. Caritas Peru also provided medical help and counseling to those affected by the disaster.
“I was very impressed with the quick and effective response of Caritas on the ground,” the Cardinal said. “It offered help - but more importantly hope - to people whose lives had been turned upside-down.”
The “El Sol del Perù” will be presented to Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga by the Peruvian Ambassador to the Holy See, Alfonso Rivero Monsalve, on 27 May at the Peruvian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2008 righe 20, parole 242)
