Where:
Where:Laç
Target audience:
Target audience:Population victimized by the aftermath of the earthquake
Who is following the project?
Who is following the project?Brother Aurel
A historic earthquake
On November 26, 2019, Albania was hit by the strongest earthquake in 40 years. The toll was heavy: 51 dead, 3,000 injured. In addition to these figures, 10 thousand people were deprived of their homes, including several hundred unable to find alternative accommodation due to building speculation caused by the small number of buildings still habitable.
Just 10 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake is Laç, a town of 17,000 inhabitants that is home to Albania’s oldest Catholic community. Laç is also known for the presence of an ancient shrine dedicated to St. Anthony, a symbol of the local church’s faith and ecumenism, reborn since the 1990s after 23 years of “state atheism.” This area was also hard hit by the earthquake, which fortunately spared the shrine.
The support of the friars
The Friars Minor who run the Laç Shrine immediately set up a reception center in which to offer hospitality and medical care to those people who suddenly found themselves facing winter without a home. At the same time, they activated a home service to provide food and health care to those in need.
However, their intervention proves to be insufficient compared to the number of people in fragile condition. For this reason, in addition to enhancing the services already offered, the friars have activated a fundraiser for the reconstruction of housing for those most in need.
Six goals to get going again
For 2020, there are six goals for the Laç community to achieve:
- Enhancement and maintenance of the parish canteen: €15,000
- Social and health assistance towards the weak population groups: €6,000
- Contribution to housing renovation of families in need: €50,000
- Renovation of parish premises in order to accommodate families in need: €10,000
- Construction of 46 houses for small households: €30,000/each
- Construction of 12 houses for large families: €46,000/each
THANK YOU!
Your generosity enabled the friars in Albania to effectively support the people affected by the earthquake.