Pope Francis Sends IDR 5.9 Billion Aid To Haiti, Bangladesh And Vietnam

Pope Francis. (Screenshot of Vatican News YouTube)

JAKARTA - The leader of the World Catholic Church, Pope Francis, sent aid, using his personal funds, to a number of countries in the world that were affected by the recent disaster.

Quoting Reuters on Tuesday, August 24, Pope Francis sent more than 350,000 euros, or about 411,000 US dollars, equivalent to Rp. 5,922,797,700 from a charity fund for his personal use, for emergency assistance in Haiti, Bangladesh and Vietnam, the Vatican said.

A statement said 200,000 euros would be sent to Haiti to help after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked the country on August 14. At least 2,207 people died, 12,286 were injured and 344 others were declared missing.

Causing about 130 thousand houses damaged and cutting off roads, this earthquake is said to be more destructive than the 2010 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people. UNICEF said more than half a million children were affected by this disaster.

Meanwhile, some US$70,000 was sent to Bangladesh to continue relief assistance from Typhoon Yaas, which left tens of thousands homeless last May. And about 100,000 euros to Vietnam, where food supplies have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting last Monday, Vietnam deployed troops to implement a lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City, after the city recorded a record COVID-19 infection. Vietnam's total recorded 358,456 cases of infection and 8,666 deaths.

The Vatican said the amount was an initial contribution and would be managed through its embassies in those countries.

To note, most of Pope Francis' personal charity money comes from Peter's Pence, a fund that Catholics can donate to public or special causes. The fund amounts to 50 million euros in 2020, according to a consolidated financial report released last month.