Catholic Relief Services

The Latest

Children amid destroyed buildings in Gaza.

CRS welcomes senators' call for humanitarian funding to West Bank, Gaza

Apr 17, 2019

Catholic Relief Services was among 18 organizations that have welcomed the introduction of a Senate Resolution calling on the Trump... Read more

Children queue outside a shelter in Guatemala.

Cutting Central American aid will make matters worse, critics say

Apr 3, 2019

While the United States threatens to cut funding to Central America in response to immigration issues, critics say the cutbacks... Read more

Federal budget proposal draws criticism for slashing foreign aid

Mar 14, 2019

A Catholic aid agency is asking Congress to maintain its commitment to international humanitarian funding, after the Trump administration proposed... Read more

Refugees in a camp on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

CRS steps up as millions in Ethiopia displaced by flooding, ethnic violence

Feb 4, 2019

With millions of Ethiopians forced out of their homes, Catholic Relief Services is working with the local Catholic Church to... Read more

Catholic Relief Services: Immigration action must consider root causes

Jan 12, 2019

In the ongoing discussions surrounding immigration, part of the solution must involve looking at the factors that drive people to... Read more

A participant in the CRS/Special Olympics program for disabled children in Vietnam.

How CRS is changing life for disabled children in Vietnam

Dec 29, 2018

By Kate Veik

Life used to be very isolated for Ho Ngoc Linh, an 11-year-old girl living in central Vietnam.  Read more

Jude Marie Bannatt, who worked on CRS' emergency health response, walks through a room at St. Francois de Sales Hospital.

In Haiti, Catholic Relief Services builds hospital to last

Dec 17, 2018

By Kate Veik

The tremor lasted less than a minute. Dr. Jude Banatte’s car was shaking, and then it was not.  Read more

Migrants at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca stadium in Mexico City, in November 2018.

Why do Central Americans join ‘migrant caravans?’

Nov 28, 2018

As policymakers and migrants consider their next steps, some have asked why migrants leave Central America to make a dangerous... Read more

Combo photo of the Philippines in November 2013 (top), November 2018.

Five years after Typhoon Haiyan, Filipinos continue to rebuild

Nov 24, 2018

On average, the Philippines is hit by 8-9 tropical typhoons per year. These storms can cause significant damage - but... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Italian youth in St. Peter's Square on August 12, 2018.

In fight against hunger, Pope says ‘beautiful words’ must lead to collective action

Oct 16, 2018

By Kevin J. Jones

Feeding the hungry requires combined action and political will to provide real help for the poor, Pope Francis has said.  Read more

A bridg lies destroyed after being hit by a tsunami, Oct. 1, 2018, in Palu, Indonesia.

CRS helps victims of Indonesia earthquake and tsunami

Oct 1, 2018

Catholic humanitarian groups have joined the efforts to support the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the Indonesian... Read more

Mama Tierra coffee. Courtesy of Equal Exchange.

CRS sells fair trade coffee, supporting Mexican farmers and land

Sep 24, 2018

By Perry West

Catholic Relief Services is now offering fair trade coffee beans that will benefit local farming communities in Mexico and foster... Read more

A starving cow near Ouahigouya, north of Burkina Faso.

Baltimore Orioles, CRS send meals to drought-stricken Burkina Faso

Sep 10, 2018

The Baltimore Orioles teamed up with Catholic Relief Services last weekend to help feed the hungry in Burkina Faso.  Read more

A child stands in front of debris after an Aug. 5 earthquake on Indonesia’s Lombok island.

As death toll climbs from Indonesia quake, Catholic agency takes action

Aug 10, 2018

With hundreds dead and thousands left homeless by a major earthquake in Indonesia last weekend, Catholic Relief Services is working... Read more

Scenes from shelters in Escuintla, Guatemala, after the Fuego volcano erupted on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

Catholic churches offer relief after Guatemala's deadly volcano eruption

Jun 5, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Three Catholic churches in Guatemala have opened their doors to shelter victims of Sunday’s sudden volcano eruption that devastated villages... Read more

Destruction in Azaz, Syria, near the Turkish border.

The past seven years: A reflection on the Syrian Civil War

Mar 15, 2018

Seven years ago, on March 15, 2011, the Syrian Civil War began. Since then, the conflict in Syria has forced... Read more

Refugees in Haiti.

Catholic aid organizations respond to Oxfam prostitution scandal in Haiti

Feb 15, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Amid allegations that Oxfam UK aid workers hired prostitutes in Haiti and Chad while administering humanitarian aid, Catholic aid organizations... Read more

Children displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The devastating but little-noticed DRC refugee crisis

Dec 8, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

Every day, thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are forced to flee their homes.  Read more

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Historic peacebuilding program launches in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Nov 15, 2017

When Pope Francis visited Bosnia and Herzegovina two years ago, he found a country still healing from a devastating conflict two... Read more

Most children in orphanages aren't actually orphans. This group wants to help them.

Sep 26, 2017

By Michelle La Rosa

Shannon Senefeld always assumed that children in orphanages are mostly orphans. Most people make that assumption.  Read more