Friends in the World

COLLECTION FOR THE VICTIMS
OF THE FLOOD IN MOZAMBIQUE

The Community and Mozambique

In 1977 the Community's interest for Mozambique began. In 1984 the Archbishop of Beira appealed for urgent help for Mozambique, stricken by a drought and the consequences of war. The answer of the Community was to send a first aeroplane with humanitarian aid, which was soon followed by others. In 1986 a "ship of solidarity" set out with food, medicines and equipment for development projects. Again in1988 a ship carried 7000 tons of food. The distribution of the aid has always been co-ordinated and controlled by volunteers of the Community together with missionaries and the Caritas of Mozambique.

But it became more and more clear that the cause, the "mother" of poverty in Mozambique was the war between the government and the guerrilla forces that began at the time of the country's independence. So the Community began to study the problem of peace. In July 1990, in the seat of the Community in Rome, the monastery of Sant'Egidio, the peace negotiations began and lasted 27 months. The negotiations took place with the mediation of the Community, of the Archbishop of Beira and of the Italian government.
On October 4th, 1992 the Peace Agreement was signed in Rome (1), putting an end to sixteen years of war and a million dead. This agreement has not been violated since. The Community of Sant'Egidio has continued its presence in Mozambique with projects to support the democracy and development of the country.

Already during the conflict, but especially after the peace was signed, many Mozambican communities of Sant'Egidio were born. Today they are in 38 different places in the country. This network of local communities, whose members are all Mozambican, all volunteers showing their solidarity in various initiatives, represents a fruit of peace and a resource for the country. On the occasion of the recent flood, the members of the local communities of Sant'Egidio have represented a precious reference point to the first providers of aid, especially in the poor areas where the communities were already present with their solidarity and initiatives.

(1) From our records:
Pax romana per il Mozambico - Corriere della Sera - 5 ottobre 1992
Noi free-lance della pace - Avvenire - 6 ottobre 1992
La pace corsara nata in convento - Jesus - ottobre 1992
Pace in Mozambico - Quel miracolo di Sant'Egidio - Il Sole 24 ore - 23 dicembre 1992