(ANS - Madrid) - In recent days, two new countries were added to the list of those affected by Ebola.  The Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal must now be counted alongside Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea Conakry. Faced with this situation, the Spanish NGO "Jóvenes y Desarrollo" is supporting the Salesians involved in the emergency, through the Children of Ebola campaign.

Families are powerless and panic-stricken in the face of this epidemic. Despite the ongoing inspections of homes to identify potential patients and place them in quarantine, the anxiety continues to rise. Children are the most affected by this epidemic. Bro. Lothar Wagner, SDB, Administrator of Don Bosco Fambul, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, says: "Families are very scared. They think that children will continue to infect other members of the family and the community."

The Government of Sierra Leone has asked the Salesians to take care of children who are rejected by their families for fear of contagion. Government estimates say that by the end of the year the number of these abandoned children might reach 200.  "Already we have started modifying some of our facilities for this," says Fr Jorge Crisafulli, Provincial of the Salesian Province of English-speaking West Africa.

Don Bosco Fambul has opened a crisis intervention centre to care for young people and children who are suffering from Ebola, or who have had the disease or have lost their families.

The NGO "Jóvenes y Desarrollo", through its Children of Ebola campaign hopes to give support to local partners by raising awareness of the current situation, which at the moment seems to be out of control. We invite readers to help the Salesians who take care of these children and young people who have been orphaned by Ebola or have been disowned by their families.

For further information on the campaign and how to participate, visit the website of the NGO Jóvenes y Desarrollo.

Published 15/10/2014