Caritas Launches Urgent Solidarity Appeal for Vulnerable

Caritas Luxembourg has launched an urgent appeal for solidarity with vulnerable and precarious people during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

In this challenging period, recipients of Caritas Luxembourg aid can continue to count on its support. Field workers remain mobilised to continue helping them, while social workers, educators, psychologists and street workers are working tirelessly on the front line to provide the homeless, refugees and people in the most precarious situations with the support and guidance they need now more than ever.

Luxembourg Measures

In order to avoid the risk of infection, special attention has been given to people at higher risk due to their age and health condition and strengthened hygiene measures have been taken in the emergency shelters for the homeless. Many actions have also been put in place to try to reduce the social isolation of beneficiaries, many of whom are already particularly isolated in normal times. Refugees in shelters managed by Caritas Luxembourg continue to receive all the necessary assistance. Similarly, homeless people can be accommodated for an additional month in the night shelter set up near Luxembourg Airport in Findel as part of the Wanteraktioun.

Organised by Luxembourg's Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, the Wanteraktioun normally runs annually from 1 December to 31 March, to accommodate homeless people during the coldest months of the year. Recently, the Ministry announced that this year's initiative had been extended to 30 April in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Caritas Luxembourg has been participating in the Wanteraktioun since 2001, alongside the Luxembourg Red Cross and the non-profit association Inter-Actions Asbl; Caritas runs the night shelter at Findel.

In a telephone interview with Chronicle.lu, Pit Bouché, President of the Board of Caritas Accueil et Solidarité asbl, confirmed that another solution had been proposed recently by Stephanie Sorvelli, who is in charge of Wanteraktioun Caritas; Ms Sorvelli suggested accommodating homeless people in hotels in Luxembourg. Such a solution could help relieve some of the pressure on the Findel facilities and thus avoid having too many people in one place. Nevertheless, Pit Bouché stressed that it is ultimately the decision of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region to pursue such proposals and that the Wanteraktioun could be extended further depending on the evolution of the situation. 

Pit Bouché added that the Caritas social bistro "Le Courage" remains open to homeless people for the use of showers, washing machines and toilets. Soups, sandwiches and drinks will be distributed, although these must not be consumed inside. Furthermore, the number of people admitted has been limited to ten at a time. Other measures taken by Caritas Luxembourg at the national and local level include taking phone orders from vulnerable customers wishing to purchase items from the association's social grocery stores and only allowing groups of maximum three customers (referred by social services) into these stores at a time. Although the social service remains operational for urgent matters and for appointment only, the clothing drive and "Kleederstuffen", Streetwork of Caritas Accueil & Solidarité, artistic workshop "Creamisu" and bodybuilding workshop "Power-Team" ​will remain closed over the next weeks. All courses and group activities offered by Caritas Luxembourg have been suspended, as well. 

Faced with the current pandemic, Pit Bouché emphasised that it was important "not to forget the homeless now" at this challenging time. This is precisely why associations like Caritas Luxembourg are committed to finding practical solutions aimed at ensuring that vulnerable people (at home and abroad) continue to receive the support they need. 

International Measures

Internationally, the first cases of coronavirus have appeared in recent days in Syria and in the refugee camps, the spread of the virus could lead to thousands of deaths. Caritas Luxembourg thus expects dramatic consequences in many poor countries like Syria where it supports humanitarian and development projects. Health facilities, already precarious or nonexistent, will not be able to provide adequate or sufficient responses to the pandemic. Consequently, the populations' needs, particularly in terms of health, are set to explode in the coming weeks. Caritas Luxembourg is already preparing by implementing measures to prevent the spread of the virus and will be ready to respond to the most urgent needs when they arise.

Marie-Josée Jacobs, President of Caritas Luxembourg, explained: "Our mission has always been to be with the most vulnerable. We must do our utmost to be even more so today. This crisis demands from all of us that we show more solidarity than ever".

Nevertheless, the coronavirus crisis has had a huge and unforeseen financial impact on Caritas Luxembourg. The needs are multiple: health, food, psychological, financial and housing assistance, with new problems appearing every day, and the crisis has only just begun.

Caritas Luxembourg has thus appealed to the generosity of the public. Anyone wishing to support the most vulnerable in the context of the current coronavirus pandemic can do so by making a donation via bank transfer to the Caritas Luxembourg account (CCPL) IBAN LU34 1111 0000 2020 0000 or online at www.caritas.lu.

For updated information on the measures being taken by Caritas Luxembourg during the coronavirus crisis, see https://www.caritas.lu/en/caritas-news/actualites/coronavirus-emergency.