crs

Religious sisters expand outreach to children in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.

Two years after Super Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines, claiming more than 6,200 lives and destroying millions of homes, CRS has repaired and rebuilt 20,000 safe and durable shelters. By making cash grants, providing construction materials and training carpenters, CRS has ensured that more than 100,000 people on Leyte and Samar islands have a safe shelter they can call home.

Ashaa’s frail frame and weary gaze suggest someone who is accustomed to hardship. She lives in a small apartment in the town of Zarqa in Jordan, with her husband, who is sick, and five children. The family fled their native Syria, and now relies mostly on aid to survive.

But something changes in Ashaa’s demeanor when she starts talking about the educational support her family receives through Caritas Jordan with Catholic Relief Services and other partners. She comes to life.

More than 1.5 million people have been affected by the violence and terrorism of Boko Haram. Yet in Niger, one of the poorest nations in the world, families are opening their doors and offering everything they have: shelter, food and solidarity.