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On January 25th, an earthquake struck the states of Quindio and Risaralda, in the coffee zone of Colombia. As a natural disaster, it is, without doubt, one of the worst tragedies the country has suffered throughout its whole history. There have been other disasters with a greater number of victims, but none involving such a complex situation as a result of the destruction of almost 70% of the region's infrastructure, leaving thousands of people affected. There has been a great level of solidarity with Colombia in the days following the earthquake. However, after the initial reaction, the most dangerous risk we face is to forget that the real tragedy is merely beginning. Once the tens of thousands of affected families have buried their dead and have tended their own wounds, they still face the enormous task of reconstructing their lives in the midst of a community in ruins. The Friars Minor have been present in this area for more than 50 years. Fourteen of our friars live and work in Armenia. We have three parishes in the most popular neighbourhoods of the city. We also have two schools: one (in a popular neighbourhood) has been totally destroyed, while the other (in a middle-class sector), is damaged but can be repaired. The popular neighbourhoods have suffered the greatest destruction to their homes. These areas have endured the biggest loss of life. It is in these areas that our friars live. We have lost absolutely everything in the College of St. Francis Solano. The friary of St. Joseph's and the parish Church of Our Lady of Carmen have been razed to the ground. After 18 hours the friars were rescued and sent to other parts of the city, where they are safe although without water, electricity, telephone or gas. They survive on what is sent from the friars in other cities for themselves, their employees and the people belonging to the parishes. We continue to accompany the members of the parishes and the families connected to the college. Today we would like to invite all the Provinces of the Order to express their solidarity with our friars and our people. The worst is still to come: people without employment, without home, without public services, without food. The task is enormous in the short, medium and long term. We face the very difficult task of reconstructing the whole infrastructure of the area. |
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to the following account: EAGLE NATIONAL BANK OF MIAMI, number 0903010751-06, COMUNIDAD FRANCISCANA PROVINCIA DE LA SANTA FE, and send a copy of the deposit to Fax number (57)(1)5406070, or e-mail pazybien@cable.net.co |
Communications Office - General Curia - Rome eMail comgen@ofm.org
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