INTERPROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OF THE DOMINICANS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

CIDALC
INTERPROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OF THE DOMINICANS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Dominican family in Guatemala

In light of the tragedy which happened in Guatemala as a result of the eruption of the Volcano “de Fuego”, located 54 km from the capital, which affected more than 2 million persons, the Dominican Family of this country calls for solidarity by means of economic contribution and prayer.
In a missive signed by the Provincial Prior, Fr. Carlos Cáceres OP, and the Provincial Syndic, Fr. Tomás David Trejo OP, the Dominican brothers account for the dramatic situation that the Guatemalan population endures and explain that “in this moment the efforts focus in attending to the emergency, but soon we will have the enormous challenge of attending to all the persons who have lost their homes and their only source of income: the ground that they were cultivating”.
“As Dominican Family in Guatemala, we are carrying out diverse efforts to bring material and spiritual support to our brothers who have suffered so much, nevertheless, our possibilities are also limited”, they specified.
Those who want to collaborate will be able to do it across an international bank account administered by the provincial representative’s office:
Banco Industrial
SWIFT: INDLGTGC
Cta. No 007-020630-5
On behalf of “Asociación Educativa Cultural y Religiosa de Santo Domingo”

Text of the letter
Guatemala, June 05, 2018

Very dear Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Preachers
I greet you fraternally, asking God to keep on giving hope to our people, so struck by the recent tragedy.
On Sunday, the 3rd of June, we have lived a painful situation, which fills us with impotence and sadness, which moves us to be in solidarity with those who have lost everything in this natural disaster.
The Volcano “de Fuego”, located approximately forty-five kilometers from the City of Guatemala erupted, throwing pyroclastic material and ash, leaving in its path seventy persons deceased, more than two hundred injured, three thousand evacuated, relocated in hostels and nearly two million affected.
The solidarity was not delayed, and many persons have brought in their donations, however, the situation is complicated because the state budget for emergencies is not sufficient to cover the needs in this moment.
The high temperatures, the gases liberated by the colossus, the rains and the constant minor explosions have made the rescue work difficult, there are still some hamlets that are completely buried, in which the number of victims is not known.
Yesterday, the rescue brigades were working almost without suitable material, since they were not provided with the necessary uniform and boots to bring support in these adverse conditions.
In this moment the efforts focus on attending to the emergency, but soon we will have the enormous challenge of attending to all the persons who have lost their homes and their only source of income: the ground that they were cultivating.
As Dominican Family in Guatemala, we are carrying out diverse efforts to bring material and spiritual support to our brothers who have suffered so much, nevertheless, our possibilities are also limited. As a result, we wish to make you cognizant of an international bank account, which is administered by the provincial representative’s office, so that if some of you want to contribute economically to overcome this tragedy, you can do it to this account.
Banco Industrial
SWIFT: INDLGTGC
Cta. No 007-020630-5
On behalf of “Asociación Educativa Cultural y Religiosa de Santo Domingo”
We thank you beforehand for your contributions and ask for your prayers for so many families that have lost their dear ones and have been left without the little that they had, since most of affected persons were small farmers or laborers of low income.
We trust in the God of Life, so that in the middle of the pain, he helps us to be carriers of compassion and hope.