MEDIA RELEASE - fOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

12 January 2009
Caritas Pledges $50,000 for Gaza

Catholic humanitarian agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged an initial $50,000 to the Caritas response in Gaza.

Caritas Internationalis has today launched an initial appeal for 1.54 million (NZ $3.5 million) and relief efforts will be coordinated by Caritas Jerusalem.

Caritas New Zealand Director Mike Smith said our sister agency, Caritas Jerusalem, has a long established involvement in Gaza. Caritas Jerusalem will undertake the following:

• provide primary health care services and post-operative out-patient care to Gaza residents through its Caritas Medical Centre, mobile clinic and 6 medical points
• assist 4 of the Gaza hospitals in dealing with the crisis, through the provision of medicines and supplies, including 2 ICU ambulances
• provide supplementary food parcels to 4,000 families
• provide hygiene kits to 2,000 families
• provide financial support in the form of cash to 2,000 families and
• provide blankets to 1,000 families.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand calls for an immediate ceasefire, asking both the Israeli military to cease its attacks on Gaza and Hamas to end its rocket attacks. Caritas Director Michael Smith said "An immediate permanent ceasefire is needed to enable the sick and wounded to be adequately treated. Innocent people are suffering and humanitarian assistance is desperately needed."

The Caritas Internationalis network comprises 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations working in over 200 countries and territories. It seeks to assist all peoples regardless of race, creed or ethnicity.

Donations to Caritas can be made in the following ways:
• Phone 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations or
• Donate online using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz or

• Post donations to: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, PO Box 12-193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, NEW ZEALAND.

ENDS

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