MECC
MECC continues its humanitarian mission in the wounded Beirut
Three months following the Beirut Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) pursues its disaster relief work on the field. Therefore, the Department of Service and Relief - Diakonia provided a new batch of relief supplies to the member Churches, to be distributed accordingly to the poorest and most in need families.
The Syriac Catholic Church tends to the wounds of its parishioners after the catastrophe of the Beirut Blast on the 4th of August
More than a hundred days have past, after the Beirut Blast, and pain is still dominant on the Lebanese ground: Homeless families, unsafe homes, unavailable jobs, schools and hospitals still underequipped... A devastating collapse is reflected in a rise in the prices of food and necessary items.
Investigations into the Beirut Blast are still inaccurate
What is new about it?
A 350-page report detailing the probable causes of the blast and those responsible for allowing it to occur, has been handed to the public prosecutor’s office but not made public. It drew on the investigations executed by Lebanon’s Intelligence Information Branch which is part of the Internal Security Forces.
Después de la explosión de Beirut, la música se dosifica para aliviar el sufrimiento de los afectados
Tania Kassis: Siempre debemos aferrarnos a la esperanza... Estoy segura de que mañana será un día mejor
Tres meses después de la explosión, los libaneses siguen hundidos en su tragedia como resultado de este desastre, que fue un golpe fatal que destruyó sus vidas y su futuro en segundos.
El Comité Ecuménico para el socorro de Beirut sigue coordinando el trabajo de socorro y de campo
Dr. Michel Abs: esta experiencia es única en la región
El Comité Ecuménico para el socorro de Beirut celebró su reunión ordinaria virtual para hacer un seguimiento del proceso de socorro que el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC) está dirigiendo en cooperación con representantes de las iglesias miembros, junto con un equipo de los diversos departamentos del Consejo.
Following the Beirut blast, music doses to ease the suffering of the affected
Tania Kassis: We should always hold on to hope... I am sure tomorrow will be a better day
Three months after the blast, the Lebanese are still sinking in their tragedy as a result of a disaster, which was a fatal blow that destroyed their lives and future in seconds. Their physical and psychological health was a calamity at a time when the country was already suffering from crucial crises. Ever since that fateful day, Beiruties continue to face great shock and depression, that is interpreted into painful psychological disorders and severe anger and despair; in addition to permanent health problems.
The Ecumenical Committee for the relief of Beirut is still coordinating the relief and field work
Dr. Michel Abs: this experience is unique in the region
The Ecumenical Committee for the relief of Beirut held its virtual regular meeting in order to follow up on the relief process that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is leading in cooperation with representatives of the Member Churches, along with a team from the council’s various departments. The meeting was chaired for the first time by Dr. Michel Abs, the new MECC Secretary General, who praised this Ecumenical experience.
Beirut a Story of Hope
Today, Beirut needs more support from all the people who love it, so that it can rise from its ashes and return to life. This is the reality of the stricken city and its people 3 months following the blast, this reality was filmed in a video entitled "Beirut, a story of hope", as a salutation of peace and love to every Lebanese who was injured in the capital. This short documentary is a message of hope to the whole world. It is a joint work between the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and the international organization "Kerk In Actie".
On the National Day of Deacons a salutation from the Protestant Dutch Church, entitled: Beirut a story of hope!
The Dutch Protestant Church celebrated, on Saturday November 7, 2020, the National Day of Deacons, with the virtual participation of a group of deacons from different regions in the Netherlands. The celebration’s agenda featured the screening of the documentary "Beirut a story of hope", which is a joint production done by "Kerk In Actie" and the Middle East Council of Churches, as an homage for the wounded Beirut and its suffering citizens due to the 4th of August 2020 Beirut Blast.
Lebanese film directors pay tribute to the Beirut blast victims and a new initiative will save the Lebanese education sector
A series of 15 short films depicting what occurred on the 4th of August has been released. Directors focused on the tales of survivors and backstories of the fallen victims. Several artists and filmmakers collaborated in this project, to immortalize the memory of the Beirut blast victims: “We tell their stories so they won’t be forgotten.”
Tres meses después de la tragedia de Beirut, las partes extranjeras piden una investigación internacional transparente
Hace tres meses, la policía pidió a diez trabajadores del servicio de emergencia que respondieran a un gran incendio en el puerto de Beirut a las 17:55 horas. Sin embargo, no se les informó de las grandes cantidades de nitrato de amonio almacenadas en el puerto, a pesar de que varios altos funcionarios libaneses sabían de su existencia. A las 18:07 horas, el almacén que almacenaba los productos químicos explotó, matando a los bomberos y al paramédico, con un total de 190 personas muertas en la ciudad.
Consultor del Comité Ecuménico, el Rev. Wilbert Van Saane: Fuimos capaces de sentir el amor de Jesús a través de esta tragedia y las dificultades
Tras la explosión de Beirut, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio solicitó un Comité Ecuménico para ayudar a la más amplia variedad de personas afectadas, y formó un equipo de responsables en el Consejo y de representantes de las iglesias miembros en Beirut. Para arrojar luz sobre esta labor de socorro sobre el terreno, el Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas se reunió con el consultor del Comité, el Rev. Wilbert Van Saane, miembro de la Iglesia holandesa, representante de Kerk in Actie, y profesor de la Escuela Evangélica de Teología de Beirut.
The Ecumenical Committee's consultant, Rev. Wilbert Van Saane: We were able to feel the love of Jesus through this tragedy and hardship
Following the Beirut Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches called for an Ecumenical Committee to help the widest range of affected people, it formed a team of responsables in the Council and of representatives of the Member Churches in Beirut. To shed the light on this field relief work, the Communication and Public Relations department met the Committee's consultant, Rev. Wilbert Van Saane, a member of the Dutch Church representing Kerk in Actie, and a professor at the Evangelical Theology School in Beirut.
Three months following the Beirut tragedy, foreign parties are calling for a transparent international investigation
Three months ago, ten emergency workers were asked by the police to respond to a large fire at the Beirut Dock at 5.55pm. However, they were not informed of the large quantities of ammonium nitrate stored at the port, despite several senior Lebanese officials knowing of its existence. At 6.07 pm, the warehouse storing the chemicals exploded, killing the firefighters and the paramedic, with 190 people in the city killed in all.
Una nueva víctima de la explosión del 4 de agosto y los libaneses continúan curando sus heridas
Hasta hoy, el número de muertos por la explosión de Beirut sigue aumentando, ya que una nueva persona fue víctima de ella. Dima Abdel Samad Kaiss, quiene estuvo en coma durante 83 días por las graves heridas en su cabeza, finalmente se unió a Nuestro Señor en el cielo. Según varios informes, estaba presente en el balcón en el momento de la explosión. De tal forma, que estuvo en coma desde entonces. Su fallecimiento es un ejemplo de la corrupción que aún está extendida en el país. Varios líderes han prometido cambio y justicia rápida desde el día de la explosión, pero no hemos notado nada.
MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
Syria and Lebanon
Humanitarian Update
Reporting period: from the 24th of October to the 2nd of November 2020
Su Excelencia el Arzobispo Georges Assadourian: El Patriarcado se comprometió a restaurar 200 casas en la afectada Beirut
En el momento en que la explosión tuvo lugar en el puerto de Beirut se dirigía al Patriarcado en Achrafieh-Jeitawi. En menos de segundos, en una abrir y cerrar de ojos, el arzobispo comenzó a transportar en su coche a los heridos al hospital. Su Excelencia el Arzobispo Georges Asadourian, Vicario Patriarcal de la Iglesia Católica Armenia narra las trágicas horas que siguieron a la explosión y lo que vino con ella de tragedia, miseria y dolor que desgarró a los ciudadanos de Beirut, al pueblo libanés y a todos los que aman al Líbano en todo el mundo.
His Excellency Archbishop Georges Assadourian: The Patriarchate pledged to restore 200 houses in the stricken Beirut
The moment the explosion took place in the port of Beirut he was heading to the Patriarchate in Achrafieh – Jeitawi. In less than seconds, the Archbishop started transporting wounded people to the hospital with his car! His Excellency Archbishop Georges Asadourian, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Church narrates the tragic hours that followed the blast and what came with it of tragedy, misery and sorrow that tore Beirut citizens, the Lebanese people and everyone who loves Lebanon across the world.
A new victim of the 4 August blast and the Lebanese are still nursing their wounds
Till today, the Beirut blast’s death toll continues to increase, as a new person fell victim to it. Dima Abdel Samad Kaiss, who went into an 83-day coma from severe head injuries, finally joined our lord in heaven. According to various reports, she was present on the balcony at the moment of the blast. As such, she had been in a coma ever since. Her passing away is an example of unaccounted-for corruption that’s still rampant in the country.