Report: 16 to 25 May 2021

Apart from Egypt, the region is still tumbling on as pre-covid economic problems deter countries from launching a full recovery campaign. Anti-corruption slogans are being used by officials to rally people behind them. So far, they have proven to be nothing more than a theatrical performance. Meanwhile, war raged in Palestine, inflicting massive damages to property and infrastructure, and resulting in more displaced people and socioeconomic burdens.

Report: 26 May 2021

The rate at which people are getting infected by corona has substantially decreased thanks to the timely vaccine rollout.

Within the work for Christian unity and testimony to the Gospel by building bridges and rounding the distances between Churches, a goal the Middle East Council of Churches has been striving to achieve since its establishment in 1974, His Eminence Metropolis of Tanta Nicolas Antoniou wrote on his Facebook page an explanatory paragraph entitled "Isn’t the Orthodox Church a Catholic One?".

His Voice Lives On

Elias El Khoury, the person to the left in the picture, is one of the many who fell victim to the blast of August 4 2020. Abou Chamat, his friend in the same picture, claims that they released two songs on music-streaming service Anghami shortly before the devastating explosion. 10 months after the tracks' release, the platform verified El Khoury’s account during this month.

And an Invitation to Media Professionals as Witnesses of the Truth

On the 55th World Media Day that the Second Vatican Council has designated in the Catholic Church since 1966 to honor media and media professionals, the Episcopal Media Committee and the Catholic Media Center in Beirut called for a ceremonial mass on Thursday May 20, 2021 at the Church of the Cross of the Monastery of the Savior, Jeita - Lebanon.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 17 to 24 May 2021

The “Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria” program was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches with the support of the international humanitarian organization Kerk in Actie.

Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh:

“To commit to Christian principles and human values is to form ideal Christian families in society”

The Middle East is facing today a daily worsening stifling wave of crises and disagreements as many social changes have been imposed on different levels during an era that has become tainted with spite, violence, hatred and injustice... This era left the family’s fate to the unknown, forcing it to face family ties threatening challenges that negatively affect education and the preservation of human values.

Report: 19 May 2021

With the decrease of new corona infection rates and the proliferation of the vaccine, the ME is increasingly easing restrictions.

Repairing Sursock Museum

In an effort to repair what the August 4 blast damaged, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Italy and UNESCO to renovate one of Beirut’s most famous museums. The project which is worth €1 million, comes under UNESCO’s Li Beirut initiative, which aims to repair schools, heritage buildings, museums and galleries damaged in the Beirut blast.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 10 to 17 May 2021

Do the Catholic and Orthodox Churches Support Families and How?

International Family Day falls on May 15 of every year and returns this year amid injustice, violence, intimidation and hate speech... but worst of all, a malicious virus from the Corona strain they called Covid-19! A virus that made matters worse, and hit us amid crises and deteriorating living conditions that suffocate families in our Arab world.

On the Ascension Day, Earth connects with the Glory of Heavens

"... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8), this is what Jesus Christ said to his disciples in the olive mountain - Jerusalem, promising them that they will receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit that brings them closer to the kingdom of God.

Report: 12 May 2021

The WHO gave the green light for the emergency of Sinopharm, China's Covid-19 vaccine, making it the sixth vaccine to receive validation.

Report: 1 to 9 May 2021

COVID-19 over the past year or so have widened economic disparity in the region. Countries with the exception of Cyprus and Jordan, have still to launch a meaningful reform program to improve the livelihoods of their citizens. Instead, corruption and sanctions still mess the scene and everyone in it.

According to “The National” news website, a judicial source informed it that fresh charges will be filed over last year’s deadly explosion at Beirut’s port in the coming “weeks”. The source claimed that the investigation will push to the end, despite any redtape or political interference. Many in Lebanon are still aching to know the truth and lament the lack of accountability within the country; Victims have repeatedly told the media over the past nine months that they fear they may never achieve justice.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 3 to 10 May 2021

In the Rosary Marathon: 3 Shrines from the Middle East

The world prays with one heart during the month of May 2021 in the "Rosary Marathon" launched by His Holiness Pope Francis on behalf of the wounded world. Since the beginning of the month, prayers were risen daily, pleading with Virgin Mary to intercede with us before her son to end the danger of Coronavirus and with it, the biggest wound of the world since generations.

In light of the 4th of August incedent last year, the removal of hazardous material from the port of beirut has become one of the top priorities of the teams on the ground. The ongoing work of such teams allowed the removal of forsaken dangerous materials and transporting them elsewhere to be disposed of.

Report: 5 May 2021

Although the various vaccination campaigns are still underway and economies started to untangle, the virus is spreading in neighboring countries at alarming rates as a ‘new deadly strain’ worries scientists.