As thousands are feared dead, the Maltese Salesians of Don Bosco are in the devastated streets of Aleppo, Syria, providing as much help as they can.

“Hundreds of buildings have collapsed, and the number of victims is now estimated over 1,000, plus hundreds still missing under the rubble and thousands injured. The earthquake was felt very strongly and for a long time,” Fr. Alejandro Leon, Provincial of the Salesians in the Middle East, who is now in Aleppo assessing the situation and coordinating a crisis support team, said.

“The cold, the snow, the derelict buildings after almost 12 years of war… we need help in Aleppo.”

As soon as the strong tremor hit, “some families took refuge in our house in Aleppo. They came with nothing, and we provided them with warm clothes and food. Their houses are not safe due to the war and now the earthquake, they feel safer living with us”.

The Aleppo Salesian Centre suffered damage from cracks and some broken windows, however, both the Salesians and the people now living there are all safe.

As soon as the strong tremors started, some families left their houses and went to the Salesian House in the heart of Aleppo. As of today, more than 300 people are hosted at the centre.

The Salesians have been working in the city of Aleppo and remained serving the people since the beginning of the war in 2011.

They are now committed to assisting and helping the earthquake victims who come to them.

“We don’t know yet how we will organise ourselves, but between the cold, the snow, and the derelict buildings after almost 12 years of war, the population needs urgent help.”

The Salesians in Malta have launched an appeal for donations to help the people of Aleppo who are now not only victims of war but also of an earthquake that hit their city.