COVID Relief and Voices of Survivors
We wrapped up the second phase of our CACE COVID Community Relief Campaign by sending packages with food and soap to 596 families in 10 villages along the Ampiyacu River and eight other locations in the region. Both times, we sent a variety of medicines to six health promoters and local clinics that serve people in multiple communities.
Our partners were very appreciate of the support and offered sobering comments about the impact of COVID. Rolando Panduro, President of the native federation in the Ampiyacu region told us: “I get a lump in my throat when I think about what we have been through. I have been running around trying to help my indigenous brothers, and often felt helpless when someone died. So many people couldn’t breathe, and the health centers had no oxygen. The pandemic taught us a very hard lesson. We have to take greater care of our health because this challenge is not over yet. I hope my artisan sisters will be able to sell their crafts again soon because they really need some income. We must take care of ourselves and recover from this blow." Read full report.
Thanks very much to the Sisters of Mercy and many others who supported this effort.