Rome, Italy, Jan 22, 2010 / 20:16 pm
The local president of Caritas in Haiti, Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas told L'Osservatore Romano about Caritas' activities in reaching the people with assistance and underscored the necessity that the international community not allow Haitians to lose hope and confidence. "They need to hear, 'We are here and we are staying!'”
"Now the survivors need more than anything to feel that we are their neighbors, they need encouragement and hope. They need to hear someone say, 'We're on our feet and we want to stay standing',” said the bishop in an interview with the Vatican newspaper.
Asked about the alleged poor management of resources by agencies providing assistance in Haiti, Bishop Dumas said, "If there is controversy, this surely does not regard the Catholic Church."
Calling the Caritas operation a "machine," the bishop explained that he and another operative from Caritas International personally coordinate the operations which are a point of reference for non-religious humanitarian organizations.