Irish overseas development agency Trocaire launched its Christmas Appeal with an urgent call from local Lucan woman Niamh McCarthy.
She is calling on Dubliners to support innocent families caught up in wars and conflicts worldwide.
“Where Trocaire works, millions of people have known nothing but war and have lived through constant conflict since they were born” Niamh told Dublin Gazette.
“Trocaire is working to protect them and keep them safe. We are asking the public to support us and make sure these innocent people aren’t forgotten this Christmas.”
This Christmas marks the 50th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s iconic War is Over ‘peace’ campaign.
Trocaire has reimagined the campaign with a 2019 War Is Over Christmas Appeal, supporting families who are living in war zones around the world.
According to Niamh, families fleeing conflict urgently need food, shelter and healthcare this Christmas in many of the countries where Trocaire works.
She said: “The figures are frightening. In Syria, Somalia and Gaza alone, where Trocaire works, an estimated 19 million people have known nothing but war – children have lived in conflict zones since they were born.”
After years of war, 6.7m Syrians have been forced to leave their country.
In Somalia, there has been an ongoing conflict since 1991 and currently half of the population (6.2 million people) is experiencing severe food shortages, with millions requiring life-saving assistance.
Meanwhile, the Israeli- Palestinian conflict has resulted in close to two million people in Gaza relying on humanitarian assistance to survive.
“Donating to the Christmas appeal will help people born into some of the longest-running conflicts in the world,” said Niamh.
“We are grateful and thankful for the support we receive from the people of Dublin each year.
“Their support directly impacts families and communities around the world and that is why it is so vital this Christmas.”
For further information and to help, see www.trocaire.org or call 1850 408 408.
