Present: B. O'Reilly, L. Fitzpatrick, B. Fabre, L. Vanderkerken, R. McGowan, S. Joachim.
Apologies for absence: J. Lee, J. Spiewak, U. Mattfeldt, P. Bonnassies.

Minutes: CH. de Parseval

OPENING PRAYER
Brian O'Reilly welcomed everyone and led the opening prayers.
He read from Mt 18,20: "So when two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them". Then Rose McGowan read an extract from a speech by Pope Francis, given at the last meeting of Catholic Organisations at the Vatican, on the subject of the Middle Eastern crisis. The Holy Father asked us to pray and act, so as not to lose sight of our commitment, and not get used to such crisis situations.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 29 JULY 2015
The minutes were approved, with no changes.

FINANCIAL UPDATE
Liam Fitzpatrick presented the accounts.

The total balance of the Solidarity Fund was 2,109,024€ (total of all funds) in January 2015; the available balance is now 3,008,553€. The funds are shared among the Disaster and Solidarity Funds, a total of 187,665€, the Africa Commission Fund, a total of 27,450€ and the special funds including 96,703€ for Kenya, 188,444€ from the Iraq/Syria appeal, and above all 974,998€ from the Vanuatu and Nepal appeal.

The countries have been very generous for this latest appeal, and we are infinitely grateful to them. A large sum has been allocated to aid for Nepal, as the Nepalese government requires NGOs to work with Caritas. All funds have to pass through Caritas. The government also imposes very strict rules about aid and reconstruction. We are praying that the government allows us to use the funds properly on the ground.

We also have 18,616€ allocated to Japan. After the Fukushima disaster, Singapore sent a very large sum intended for rebuilding a nursery. The funds requested by Japan were sent, but there was plenty left from the Singapore donation. We have asked Japan several times to tell us if they still need these funds, but so far have had no reply. We are going to ask one last time, and if there is no response, we will ask Singapore to authorise us to allocate the remainder to other projects.

Funds were sent for the young people of Tanzania.

Funds sent to Sierra Leone were used in the fight against Ebola.

FUNDS SENT BETWEEN MEETINGS

BANGLADESH We sent 3000€ emergency aid after the tropical cyclone Komen struck in July 2015.

DOMINIQUE
We sent 3000€ emergency aid after the tropical storm Erika struck in August 2015.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

RWANDA
This week we received a report of the inspection of the Burundi refugee camp at Mahama (Rwanda), by the National President, the Secretary and the Youth officer from Rwanda. They noted that the aid granted was not distributed fairly. The Rwandan delegation therefore decided to withhold the second phase of funds allocated by the CGI (2000€). They decided to allocate these funds to help children separated from their families, for purchase of shoes for children and adults, for bowls, and for children's clothes. The camp is quiet, but contrary to official reports, the refugees do not wish to return home.

The National Council of Belgium has received requests for aid directly from Rwanda. It has granted 2500€ for a school project in Rwanda. The grants for the project will be awarded depending on reports received.

BOLIVIA
We approved the sending of 2000€ for a physiotherapy centre.

We were concerned about allocating funds to the doctors concerned, and also because fees were charged for consultations. We were reassured on both these points: the first only involved transport costs repaid to voluntary staff. For the second, the consultation is free to residents/patients of the centre, and charged to people from outside (at a rate only one sixth of the normal cost of a consultation).

JORDAN
A request for 55,000€ was made for an aid project for Syrian and Iraqi refugees. CIAD agreed an initial budget of 10,000€, subject to report. We received the report, but it was more a statement of need than evidence of expenditure. We are therefore going to ask for details on expected costs: whether and how they have been made, etc.

SYRIA – ALEPPO
At the last meeting, we allocated 20,000€ from the Syrian and Iraqi refugees Aid Fund for refugees in Aleppo. We received a detailed report on the use of the funds, which accorded with the request. Needs were itemised and costed. They are significant. CIAD is also helping Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Jordan and decided to continue to help our Christian brothers and sisters to stay in these areas (there are only 60 to 100,000 Christians left in Aleppo, of the 450,000 recently there). Another 20,000€ will be sent.

TURKEY
Two projects for help with school fees for children were made last July. CIAD approved these projects in principle, but waited for support from the VPTI. With his agreement, a sum of 10,137€ has been sent. We are awaiting the report on its use.

UGANDA
We received a request for help for Burundi refugees at the Kyangwali camp, with a budget of over 12,000€, but we have not had the agreement of the VPTI or the coordinator. As this is a refugee camp, we decided at the last meeting to send 3000€. We received an e-mail report which we could not open, so we asked for it to be resent in another format. Although there is great need there, this aid is suspended awaiting agreement from the VPTI and the zone coordinator, as well as a readable report.

HAITI
We received an incomplete aid project for people from the Dominican Republic, and we are waiting for more details.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

JERUSALEM
We received a request for funds for a Jerusalem Conference, and replied that we are only considering specific projects. By return, we received a request relating to 3 projects: kindergarten, professional training and medical help. These projects are high-value and well put together. CIAD wants to support the Christian communities and has a very favourable opinion of these applications, but before moving on, we need to know if the twinnage relationship between Australia and Jerusalem is still in place.

One detail: the request was made on old forms and we have no references about the Conference proposing these projects. While waiting for the information needed, CIAD decided to re-examine the application at its next meeting in November. We also first need the approval of the VPTI and the Coordinator.

SOUTH SUDAN
In July we received a request for help for the refugee camp in South Sudan, and 3000€ was sent as emergency aid. We received a detailed report with copies of bills, together with another request for a large-scale food distribution project. The VPTI agreed to this, but given the low level of funds available in the Disaster and Solidarity Fund, expressed reservations and asked for the aid to be limited to a smaller number of people. CIAD decided to send 17,000€ and will ask England & Wales, twinned with South Sudan, if they would like to contribute to this project.

INFORMATION AND FURTHER BUSINESS

MADAGASCAR
We approved funding of a project to rebuild 13 wood and brick homes after the tropical storm Chedza which struck the island in January 2015. We received a detailed and itemised report of the use of the funds sent. In the end, 21 homes were built, 18 of wood, and 3 of brick. Because of the number requested, smaller homes were built, but more of them.

BANGLADESH
After the emergency aid sent in July 2015, we have received two projects for reconstruction schemes (one for rebuilding 50 homes, the other to help create around one hundred self-employed jobs). CIAD believes that the budget requested is too high; it also requires further details on these projects (who will supervise them, why are there administrative charges, who is going to choose the families to benefit, the jobs and activities to develop? etc.). This request is short on detail, and is more of an overall vision. While waiting for this information, CIAD postponed its decision until its next meeting in November.

MACEDONIA
We received a professional training project request for young adults. This came to us directly, just in a letter, without prior approval from the VPTI or zone coordinator. The project has to start at once, and this Conference is well known for its work, so CIAD agreed aid of 4500€, subject to approval of the VPTI and zone coordinator, as well as with further information on the project which must be sent on CIAD forms. These forms, as well as explanatory documents, will be sent to the Conference.

It should also be pointed out that if some countries or Conferences find problems filling out CIAD forms, the VPTI and zone coordinators as well as CIAD Correspondents can help them.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 18 November 2015, at 2pm.

CLOSING PRAYER

Vice-President General Brian O'Reilly thanked everyone present for their hard work, and closed the meeting with a prayer.


Brian O'Reilly
Vice-President General