Following severe droughts in northern Italy, torrential rain in and around Italian cities stretching from Bologna to Rimini then struck Emilia Romagna on May 16/17, 2023.
This resulted in the overflow of 23 river systems in the region – with 43 towns and cities flooded, and reports of more than 400 landslides.
Caritas began relief operations in the immediate aftermath of the floods, mobilizing volunteers from the Emilia Romagna region, Italy as a whole and even neighbouring countries.
Throughout the weeks that followed, Caritas work focused on three key areas:
• Carrying out remedial building work and refurbishing rooms for homeless families;
• Providing financial support to families in need, allowing them to pay for utilities and essentials including food and clothing;
• The restoration of services and community spaces affected by flooding.
In addition to its focus on families, Caritas has worked to identify and address the immediate needs of the elderly, vulnerable and those who have experienced psychological trauma.
OVER 20 YEARS OF INVESTMENT IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES
Countries where we have supported our partners’ work in response to a growing range of threats to life and livelihood
Million USD invested since 2001 to help communities better prepare for – and recover from – natural and man-made disasters
Projects addressing a broad range of challenges, including mine-clearance, emergency shelter, resilient housing solutions and capacity building