Pope Francis is urging governments to find a political solution to the war in Syria as part of the Caritas Internationalis ‘Syria: Peace is Possible’ campaign
Address: ul Petar Poparsov br. 43, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Telephone: +389 2 3224 190 / +389 2 3220 622
Email: makedonski.karitas@gmail.com
Caritas Macedonia is the humanitarian organisation of the Catholic Church in Macedonia. It was founded in 1991 in Skopje with the aim of helping those who are most in need – regardless of national, religious and political ideologies. Caritas Macedonia’s humanitarian assistance has provided vital relief items such as food, clothing and medical assistance to the most vulnerable groups of people, especially after the war in Kosovo in 1999 and the Macedonian conflict of 2001. Special emphasis was given to the elderly and the most vulnerable citizens such as refugees in Macedonia and the Roma, with assistance that helped them secure documents, citizenship and various educational courses.
Caritas Macedonia programmes help poor families with no income or whose social assistance is around 30-50 euros a month; the provisions include the basic necessities of food, clothing and medicine.
A major aspect of the work of Caritas Macedonia is a 9-month education project for 100 Roma children so that they can learn to speak and write the Macedonian language, a requirement for entering primary education.
Since summer 2015, Caritas Macedonia is present at two important points of the Balkan route in Macedonia: entrance in and exit from Macedonia, supporting migrants/refugees primarily by food distribution first through EA and then through bilateral collaboration with different partners.
The National Office of Caritas Macedonia is located in Skopje and there are Caritas parishes in all parts of the country. The local bishop serves as President while the organisational work is entrusted to the Director. The Caritas parishes are led by the parish priest and volunteers help carry out their humanitarian mission.
Caritas Macedonia is a member of Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis and has worked with many members from the Caritas network.
Updates from Macedonia
The decision to impose tighter border restrictions is effectively converting Greece into a refugee camp. Caritas is providing aid, but says EU policies must change.
More than 930,000 refugees arrived in Greece in the past 12 months. Last year several thousand people were crossing the border at Idomeni every day but now there are tight restrictions.
Caritas serves more than 500 portions of soup a day in a transit camp for refugees and migrants crossing into Macedonia from Greece.
In 2015, almost a million refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe. They’re escaping war, persecution and poverty. Aid agencies like Caritas are often the only help available.
Caritas Internationalis is launching an emergency appeal to provide hot meals, better hygiene and winter clothes and shoes to refugees and migrants crossing Macedonia.
Cardinal Luis Tagle says more must be done to help people on their journey through Europe as they flee conflict at home. The Caritas Internationalis chief visited a transit camp on the Greek border
The war in Syria is reaching the heart of Europe, with hundreds of thousands of refugees leaving the Middle East through the Western Balkans. Their voyages are filled with peril and suffering, but along the way they're receiving solidarity and help.
Caritas Internationalis calls upon governments, communities and all people of good will to welcome refugees while working for peace as a priority in their homelands.
Caritas Europe Info
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
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- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- England and Wales – CAFOD
- England and Wales – CSAN
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
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- Lithuania
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- Macedonia
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Ukraine – SPES