Caritas Jerusalem

Caritas Jerusalem
Established1967
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersParatroopers Road
Location
Coordinates31°46′48″N 35°13′33″E / 31.77996°N 35.22595°E / 31.77996; 35.22595
OriginsCatholic Social Teaching[1]
Region served
Palestinian Territories
Fieldssocial work
Secretary General
Anton Asfar
AffiliationsCaritas MONA, Caritas Internationalis
Websitecaritasjr.org

Caritas Jerusalem (Arabic: مؤسسة كاريتاس القدس, Hebrew: קריטס ירושלים) is a Catholic nonprofit organisation based in Jerusalem and operating mainly in the Palestinian territories. It was established in 1967 and is the official aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Palestine and in Israel. The organisation refers to the territories it is working in as the "Holy Land".[2]

Caritas Jerusalem implements social welfare services and provides humanitarian aid. It is a member of both Caritas Internationalis and Caritas MONA.

Background

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Caritas Jerusalem was founded in 1967 after the Six-Day War to coordinate Catholic relief efforts.[3][4]

In 2022, Caritas Jerusalem's activities included the renovation of houses, distribution of food kits, integration activities for persons with disabilities, labour market integration activities for women and youth, healthcare and health promotion activities, as well as other support to vulnerable groups.[2] These activities took place in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.[5]

During the Gaza humanitarian crisis, Caritas Jerusalem set up a temporary clinic in the north of the territory in February 2024 and eight mobile clinics for the displaced persons in Rafah.[6] A lab technician and a pharmacist working for Caritas Jerusalem were killed during bombings in October and in November 2023.[7][8][9]

Governance

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Presidents

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Secretaries General

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  • 1987–2013: Claudette Habesch[13]
  • 2013–2017: Fr. Raed Abusahlia[14]
  • 2017–2022: Sr. Bridget Tighe[15]
  • 2022–present: Anton Asfar[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Where We Work: Jerusalem". caritas.org. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Annual Report 2022". caritasjr.org. 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Un appel… Une enquête… Des secours…". fondationjeanrodhain.org. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Une catastrophe humanitaire sans précédent". cath.ch. 4 October 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  5. ^ Lopez Marina, Diego (11 October 2023). "Caritas Jerusalem suspends activities in Gaza and Israel but announces emergency plan". The Catholic World Report. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Gaza : Au bord du précipice, mais jusqu'à quand ?". caritasinternational.be. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Caritas mourns worker and her family killed in Gaza church compound strike". CNN. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ^ Bordoni, Linda (26 November 2023). "Caritas navigates huge challenges amid Holy Land crisis". Vatican News. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  9. ^ Twiston Davies, Bess (30 November 2023). "Caritas fears not enough aid reaching Gaza during temporary ceasefire". The Tablet. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Our Fundamental Need is for Peace, Justice, Freedom, and End to Occupation". Wafa. 21 December 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Le Patriarche latin de Jérusalem souhaite la levée du blocus à Gaza". caritas.org. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Episcopal Commissions". aocts.org. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Claudette Habesch, Jerusalem". Jerusalem Peace Institute. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem – Raed Abu Sahlieh". lpj.or. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  15. ^ Mac Donald, Sarah (19 October 2016). "Q & A with Sr. Bridget Tighe, bringing health care to people in the Gaza Strip". globalsistersreport.org. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Neuer Generalsekretär der Caritas Jerusalem". Information Christlicher Orient. November 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
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