Report 1 to 13 April 2021

Recently, the IMF revised its projections of the real GDP growth in the (MENA) region to increase it to 4 percent in 2021, an upgrade of 0.9 percent relative to the fund’s October projections. This is due to the fact that MENA countries have managed to lessen the impacts of the pandemic on their economies through certain policies that set the balance between the people’s health and the protection of the economy.

On the 9th of April 2021, two German firms unveiled a reconstruction plan that would turn Beirut port and its surroundings into a major lucrative area, according to European standards. Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, Colliers Germany’s managing director Hermann Schnell stated “affordable housing for families, green space and good infrastructure” is one of the goals of the project.

As a follow-up to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq, Middle East Council of Churches President on behalf of the Catholic family and Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako met with MECC General Secretary Dr. Michel Abs, Assistant Secretary General Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros and departments directors.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 4 to 12 April 2021

The Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat issued its annual report for the year 2020, a year in review burdened by challenges and obstacles in the world in general, and the Middle East in particular. The East witnessed a never-ending cycle of crises for decades now.

Report: 6 April 2021

In a bid to fight the pandemic in the Middle East and worldwide, the UAE declared that it will start producing Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from April.

This is especially good news for the countries of the Arab world as the UAE, which has always been the benefactor of many ME nations.

Actualmente, Francia y Alemania lideran los esfuerzos para reparar los daños causados por la explosión del puerto. Francia está aportando €500,000 euros para restaurar los vitrales y el histórico primer piso del Museo Sursock de Beirut.

Por su parte, Alemania tiene previsto presentar una propuesta en la que detallará sus posibles esfuerzos de reconstrucción.

Currently, France and Germany are leading efforts to repair the damage caused by the port blast. France is contributing €500,000 to restore the vibrant stained-glass windows and historic first floor of Beirut’s Sursock Museum. As for Germany, it plans to submit a proposal detailing its prospective reconstruction efforts. However, Germany’s assistance will only come at a price Lebanese politician cannot afford: the formation of a government with a clear anti-corruption agenda.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 29 March to 6 April 2021

Celebrating together the Feast of the Resurrection Deepens Fraternal Communion And Solidifies the Spirit of Unity

Will the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025 be the date that will unite Christians on Easter?

For several decades now, unifying the date of Easter among all churches has been a problem that goes back to the emergence of early Christianity. However, the dream of “unity” on Easter, at least, has become something believers are thirsty for today, especially with massive differences and divisions in the Middle East where different ecclesiastical families live.

Should we come to consider the church calendars showing the date of the feasts that we celebrate, both according to the Eastern as well as well as according to the Western Church Traditions, we will find out that they all show a period of 18 to 19 weeks revolving around the celebration of Easter. And should we take a closer look, we would realize that the date of the celebration of the Feast of Easter changes from one year to another.

In another new update that might make your day a little better, the newly commissioned judge is now investigating the United Kingdom-registered company Savaro Ltd; the entity that bought 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which blew up at Beirut ‘s Port. According to Al-Jadeed, Judge Tarek Bitar is submitting a request for Switzerland, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, and Germany to lift banking secrecy from the company’s accounts.

Report: 29 March 2021

So far, 193 countries have ordered over 20 billion vials of vaccines to be delivered by the end of 2021. However, the total production capacity of all the vaccines in that timeframe is 9.2 billion does.

Report: 16 to 30 March 2021

Throughout the past few years, foreign powers have slapped sanctions on ME nations in an attempt to coerce them to change their actions. Instead, the regimes that they have targeted remain standing while ordinary citizens suffer. Poverty is on the rise and so are the cries of anguish. Drawing from what Caritas International had to comment on the matter, the sanctions must stop and foreign nations must rethink their strategies when tackling the ME.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 22 to 29 March 2021

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). With these words the Virgin Mary put a start to the history of mankind and Christianity. Had it not been for her obedience to God, there wouldn’t have been a union between the divine and the human nature.

Report: 22 March 2021

All listed countries recorded additional cases and new deaths. Nevertheless, the rate of such numbers generally have decreased indicating partial success due to the vaccine rollout.

Ten years have passed since the outbreak of the war in Syria. This war has left behind a worsening humanitarian crisis and is classified as the largest since World War II.

Ten years have passed, leaving behind the largest refugee crisis in the world with 5.6 million Syrians displaced to neighboring countries, 6.7 million others forced to leave their homes and relocate and large numbers of martyrs and permanently wounded citizens.

Several months after the Beirut blast, researchers from India's National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, and Hokkaido University in Japan made an astounding discovery. It turns out that the electrical disturbances that resulted from the blast was comparable to the impact of many volcanic eruptions.

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, women marched next to the area where the explosion had occurred. Of course, they were the mothers of victims who perished on August 4. They held up high banners, which called on the political elite to surrender power.