Caritas provides assistance to 75 foreigners

Caritas Macau has helped a total of 75 foreigners in Macau so far this year for economic and other reasons, Paul Pun, secretary-general of the charity organization, said yesterday.

Pun also disclosed that 25,000 foreigners in Macau have sought help from a branch of the charity organization. He said that the main reasons behind these help seekers’ need for support were economic difficulties, financial education and medical needs, mostly because they did not know where to see a doctor in Macau.

In addition, he said that many foreigners in Macau were among the first to experience the impact on the economy from the Covid-19 pandemic. After normalization following disease prevention restrictions, most of them have regained their jobs and could settle their everyday bills.

The food bank of Caritas Macau, which provides short-term food support, has received 2,729 applications in the first 6.5 months of the year. There was more than a 10% increase year-over-year. Pun did not attribute the rise to a deteriorated economy but to more people knowing about the service.

Yesterday also saw the charity organization hosting an artistic event celebrating foreign cultures in Macau. It featured Southeast Asian singing and dancing as well as a showcase of ethnic attire. Caritas hopes to provide a stage for foreigners to showcase their culture in Macau, as well as for local residents to learn about foreign cultures so as to foster cultural understanding and harmony. AL