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Earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy: pain and solidarity
How you can help. A letter from the Focolare community in Abruzzo
08/04/2009
 Emails continue to arrive from all over the world, sharing the pain of the violent earthquake in Abruzzo, giving assurance of prayers, and asking how to help.
All the members of the Focolare community in the Abruzzo region have survived, although some have lost their homes and their belongings.
Everyone is busy helping out in a thousand ways. Today this report arrived: “Everywhere the earth is still moving, there are powerful aftershocks, and as soon as we feel them, we go to help our neighbours, the weak, the old and the children… In l’Aquila, everyone has left their homes, but in other towns, where the aftershocks are just as strong, people frequently rush outside: there are people sleeping in the streets, in the squares, and in their cars.
At these moments, the choice of God that Chiara taught us emerges strongly, and an almost automatic reaction is to be there for our neighbours, to share their pain and comfort them. People everywhere are composed, dignified; showing inner strength and generosity, the typical characteristics of these people. Everyone without exception is busy helping those in need. There are lists of volunteers ready to do anything, and there are different collection points for each kind of need and necessity…
 For the emergency operations in the city of L’Aquila, we are working with Caritas and the Civil Defence. There are some of our people based at the tent city at the city gates, and others have been called upon for help. Those of our community and others who have been evacuated to the coast have been provided with sheets, clothing, money. One of our group went to buy clothes for the evacuees at the market, and when the traders realised, they gave them away free.
With the communities in Abruzzo, Molise and now Termoli, we are trying to help the evacuees who began to arriving in our towns in these days. We are visiting hotels in Giulianova, Montesilvano, and Pescara. We also contacted the hospitals in Pescara, Chieti and Teramo in order to help the injured who are in need, and to offer hospitality in our homes to those who are with them. Our young people in l’Aquila are trying to make contact with the children gathered in the tent cities.
Many people are asking us how to help. For the emergency services in l’Aquila everything has to go through Caritas, Civil Defence, and other responsible bodies. If there is a need for volunteers in other cities we will let you know straight away: many young people have told us they are available.
We want to thank you very much for the money that is being collected. There are a lot of things that have to be rebuilt here".
Contributions can be sent by bank transfer to the following account:
PAMOM - Fondo Mondo Unito - causale “Terremoto Italia”
Intesa San Paolo
Iban: IT04 M030 6939 1401 0000 0640 100
BIC BCITITMM
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