AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Fundraising campaign for victims of tropical storms: believers donate "in silence"

Tuesday, 24 November 2020 natural catastrophe   social situation   politics   local churches  

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Managua (Agenzia Fides) - The donations collected in the Catholic parishes of Nicaragua last Sunday for the victims of the tropical storms Iota and Eta were given “in silence” by the faithful on the recommendation of Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua.
Despite the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the faithful went to their parishes to follow Cardinal Brenes' appeal for donations and to give support. In his Sunday homily, broadcast by the Catholic media from his home in Managua, he asked the faithful for "generosity without much propaganda, humble and simple, without seeking any recognition".
And the believers tried to make their donations unnoticed. In Managua Cathedral, donations could be made directly from the car. The collection point was on the cathedral grounds in an area to which the media had no access.
As Cardinal Brenes reports, believers were able to deliver their donations to the parishes as early as Thursday. The secrecy with which believers channeled the donations is also linked to multiple previous reports of alleged threats by the Nicaraguan police against those who collected aid for the victims, according to a donor from the outskirts of Managua, who wants to remain anonymous.
So far, there is no official record from government agencies of the total damage caused by the hurricanes that struck Nicaragua between November 3rd and 16th.
Vice President Rosario Murillo announced that a total of 160,597 people were left homeless and at least 21 died after Hurricane Iota (unofficial reports say 28 dead).
Treasury Secretary Iván Acosta stressed that the damage caused by Eta was estimated at $ 178 million, 1,890 homes were destroyed and a further 8,700 were damaged in the municipality of Puerto Cabezas (in the northeast) alone.
According to Cardinal Brenes, the aid collected this Sunday will be delivered to the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Siuna, Prelate Pablo Schmitz, who is responsible for the areas affected by Iota and Eta, which are among the poorest and most isolated in Nicaragua. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 24/11/2020)


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