AFRICA/LIBYA - Appeal by Bishop Martinelli for the Eritreans in Libya: “yesterday 2,000 came back to our church and buildings asking for help”

Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “I would like to make an appeal for the estimated 2,000 Eritreans who came into our church and buildings yesterday, asking for help and assistance,” Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli in Libya tells Fides. “It breaks my heart that we can not do anything for them. My thoughts go out especially to the women and children. They are truly the last in the Gospel. They are meek, generous and very religious people. I ask that these people be helped and find refuge somewhere. There is no one who thinks of them. They are not dangerous people and they do not take anything from our mouths.”
“We managed to get clearance for 54 Eritreans who have the documents from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),” Bishop Martinelli continues. “These people will probably depart tomorrow on a special plane for Italy. But others do not have the card from the UNHCR. We just need a ship to pick them up. It would be a wonderful gesture. For the 54 that will leave, we were able to house them in a room adjacent to the church. The other two thousand wanted to stay in the church, but it was impossible. We try to help them as much as we can, contributing to pay their home rentals.”
Regarding the situation in Tripoli, the Apostolic Vicar says: “The situation here is calm. The morning, which began late, after 9 am, was preceded by a night distinguished by complete silence. We enjoyed a little peace. The people could be seen going to the bank to withdraw the promised 500 dinars for each family. There are lines in front of banks and bakeries. The other stores are still closed. The post office opens on and off. So things are quite calm in the context of Tripoli. I can only speak for this city.”
Bishop Martinelli concludes by describing the situation of the pastoral ministers of the Church: “Some sisters left the area of Benghazi, stressed because of the situation. The rest of the religious sisters, like all the priests, have remained in their place.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/2/2011)