Trocaire opens Lenten campaign with land theme

It was a tragic irony that the first Lenten campaign of the 21st century should have "Land" as its theme, the chairman of Trocaire, Bishop John Kirby, said yesterday, given the continuing flood crisis in Mozambique, where vast tracts of land were under water. Speaking at the start of the charity's annual Lenten campaign in Dublin, he said funds would be vitally needed to support the recovery efforts in Mozambique.

Also speaking yesterday was Bishop Kevin Dowling of South Africa, who warned of the added dangers facing Mozambique where a million land mines, planted during the country's civil war, had been disturbed by the floods.

"Where they are now, we do not know," Bishop Dowling said.

"Mozambique is already the sixth-poorest country in the world. It is struggling to get on its feet after almost two decades of civil war. The average [daily] calorie intake is just 1,632, the lowest in the world," he said. "The average Irish person takes in more than double that amount."

He added his support to the call by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, to cancel Mozambique's international debt. Bishop Dowling said more than $1.5 million left the country every week in debt repayments.

"Yet a total of just $1 million per week is spent on healthcare and education combined. In the meantime, one in five children in Mozambique dies before they reach their first birthday."

Bishop Kirby said land had been chosen as this year's theme, following last year's focus on debt cancellation.

"Lack of access to land is a fundamental cause of poverty. Trocaire is working alongside poor and land-less farmers in Asia, Africa and Latin America," he said. "We cannot do this work without the continued generosity of the Irish people."

Lent, which runs from today until April 23rd, is Trocaire's traditional fund-raising period. The charity is hoping to top the £6.5 million raised in last year's campaign. Over the past 26 years Trocaire has raised some £70 million.