Trocaire man appeals to hometown Tallaght
By Mary Dennehy
TROCAIRE worker Colin Skehan has appealed to his hometown of Tallaght to support the charity’s Christmas appeal – which this year focuses on families at risk of starvation and violence in war-torn countries.
According to Trocaire, the appeal comes as 14 million people in Yemen face starvation and the prospect of the worst famine the world has seen in 100 years, while in South Sudan a five-year civil war has forced more than 4.5m people to flee their homes.
Colin Skehan
“Trocaire is working with local organisations in both of these countries, as well as others around the world, to bring aid and medical care to people trapped in the middle of conflict and to help those who have fled war to build a new life,” the charity said.
Thanking the people of Tallaght for their continued support, Kilnamanagh native Colin Skehan noted that the impact Trocaire can make because of donations “cannot be underestimated”.
“However, there is much more to be done,” he said.
“Millions of people in countries such as South Sudan have had to flee for their lives, leaving everything they own behind.
“Many of these families have been split up as they trek across the country in search of safety.
“In Yemen, innocent children, women and men are being pushed to the brink of starvation as a result of violence, airstrikes and blockades.
“Trócaire is working to help bring lifesaving relief, but we can’t do it without the generous support of the public.
“I would appeal to people across the county to help us bring food, water, shelter and safety to those desperately in need this Christmas and beyond.”
Last year, Trocaire reached more than 2.8m people facing extreme poverty across the developing world, from Syrian refugees fleeing conflict to the drought and famine in east Africa.
To support Trocaire’s work visit www.trocaire.org/christmas or call 1850 408 408.
