Caritas Australia CEO meets with Cardinal Souraphiel in Addis Ababa

6 July 2022

MEDIA RELEASE: Caritas Australia CEO meets with Cardinal Souraphiel in Addis Ababa

A delegation from Caritas Australia has travelled to Ethiopia to meet with its partner Caritas Ethiopia to discuss the response to the ongoing food crisis gripping the Horn of Africa region.

The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing one of the worst food shortages in recent history. The combined impacts of drought, conflict and skyrocketing fuel and food prices are taking a huge toll on the population, who are struggling to make ends meet and feed their families.

Caritas Australia CEO, Ms. Kirsty Robertson, and Advancement Director, Mr. Richard Landels, met with His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel in Addis Ababa to discuss the renewed partnership between Caritas Ethiopia and Caritas Australia, and their shared interests in protection and vocational education.

They were joined by the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, Father Teshome Fikre and the Executive Director of Caritas Ethiopia, Mr. Bekele Moges.

“I was honoured to meet His Eminence in Sydney over a month ago on his recent visit to Australia, and he invited me to Ethiopia. Mere weeks later here I am, and it was an excellent opportunity to learn more about what is happening in Ethiopia and strengthen our relationship with our partners,” said Ms. Robertson.

“Despite the vast distance between our countries, since we are both part of the Caritas network it feels like meeting a member of the family - as we are united in our shared values of ending poverty and promoting human dignity.”

The Catholic Church is one of the largest groups assisting with development and humanitarian response in many regions of Ethiopia – working across vocational education, protection, poverty relief and humanitarian aid. Caritas Ethiopia is currently implementing drought relief in southern parts of Ethiopia and supporting displaced communities in camps in northern Ethiopia.

“We are pleased to host Caritas Australia in Ethiopia, and to be able to show them our work here. It is so important to be able to learn from each other and to discuss our shared goals,” said Mr Moges.

Caritas Australia recently launched the Africa Food Crisis Appeal to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to countries in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. Funds will go towards partners on the ground to implement lifesaving humanitarian aid in the form of food distributions, water, shelter, and household items for displaced families.

Donations can be made at: https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/africa-food-crisis/

Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Caritas Australia, is available for interview from Ethiopia. Photography and footage are also available.

Media contacts:               Nicole Chehine 0412 179 063 / Nicole.chehine@caritas.org.au

Tom Svich 0407 916 787 / tom.svich@caritas.org.au