NATIONAL BODY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF IN ITALY (E.N.D.S.I.). — It arose through the joint initiative of the Italian Government, the Catholic Church in Italy, and the Italian Red Cross; it was established by D.L.L. of 28 September 1944, no. 220, for the purpose of providing for the free distribution of relief supplies—sent to Italy by foreign governments, organizations, or private individuals, or allocated by the Italian government—to the most needy categories of the Italian civilian population.
The E. is administered by a governing committee composed of 9 members, three of whom are appointed by the presidency of the Council of Ministers, three by the Catholic Church in Italy, and three by the Italian Red Cross.
The governing committee appoints an executive board composed of three members, one chosen by the presidency of the Council, another by the Catholic Church in Italy, and the third by the Italian Red Cross. The provincial and municipal committees are constituted in the same manner.
The relief supplies came largely from the United States of America, which, through the two major organizations—“American Relief for Italy” and “War Relief Services” of the “National Catholic Welfare Conference”—and numerous other relief agencies, sent approximately 70% of the relief mentioned above, much of it addressed to the Holy Father, who generously assigned it to the E.N.D.S.I. for assistance to the needy Italian population. Altogether, by the end of 1949, the relief supplies received from the United States of America had reached 1,650,000 parcels of clothing, foodstuffs, medicines, etc., weighing approximately 72,000 tons.
The Catholic organizations of Ireland also made a substantial contribution to the dispatch of aid; its government arranged for approximately 74,000 parcels (4,500 tons) of various relief goods to be sent to Italy. Another significant contribution of relief of various kinds came from Switzerland through the organization “Dono Svizzero,” which, by channeling relief donated by various donor organizations, some of them Catholic, made possible the distribution of considerable quantities of clothing and footwear, household goods, medicines, foodstuffs, etc., as well as materials for huts and window and door frames. Other nations, such as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Sweden, Turkey, etc., through the establishment of autonomous committees, some of them represented by local Catholic leaders, collected and sent clothing and foodstuffs to Italy.
By 31 December 1949, the E.N.D.S.I.’s motor vehicles had transported goods for 20,590,497 q.l./km. and had traveled 559,880 km. transporting children to summer colonies.
Francesco Cantuti Castelvicco