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.

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.

The deadly outbreak of the Coronavirus has had many negative repercussions on people’s mental health, especially women and children, who are considered to be the most vulnerable. The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office, organized many psychological and social support sessions allowing participants to restore their normal life activities.

MECC provided awarenes for COVID-19 to families in Deir Al Bakeht, Dara’a Governorate, through visiting 2047 families in their homes.

The families were introduced to disease transmission methods and infection symptoms and were given tips on how to strengthen their immune system.

8 months following the catastrophic Beirut Port Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its response to the urgent necessities and losses resulting from it and its tremendous repercussions, through supporting the affected people, especially amid the deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Amid dire living conditions in Lebanon, Our Lady Dispensary Team, affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, supported the neediest people by providing medical services, the prices of which have dramatically increased with the deterioration of the economic situation in the country.

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.

Within the Livestock and Poultry Program, MECC team continues to support poor and affected families to help them overcome difficult living conditions and empower them to participate in the economic life.

The MECC Team distributed 30 laying hens to 111 families in Al-Sanamayn and 89 families in Ghabagheb in rural Dara’a, providing coops, fodder mixture kits, vaccines, vitamins, and veterinary services to vulnerable households.

Believing in the important role of teachers in building and raising generations, MECC organized a training course for teachers addressing basic principles of child protection. 30 teachers and directors from different educational centers participated in the training.

7 months following the Beirut Port Blast and the Middle East Council of Churches is keen to continue its mission in serving the human dignity by supporting the affected and needy people who are still facing the enormous repercussions of the explosion.

Online Meeting and Evaluation of the Implementation Phase

Following up on the work of the “The Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria” program, members of the Committee in charge of following up on the program held an electronic meeting which the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs attended for the first time after his election.

At a time of lockdown and confinement where people are struggling to provide their basic needs, the children’s needs and mental health are often overlooked.

Many of the refugee children are not enrolled at schools, primarily because the parents cannot afford tuition, a tablet or a laptop and many of them don’t have the luxury of internet service at home.

MECC organized vocational trainings in Aleppo city, Syria, in cooperation with the Armenian Protestant Church, in which 200 men and women participated. The trainings lasted a month and a half and included a variety of specializations: women hairdressing, makeup art, mobile maintenance, electrical wiring, management of tourism and travel offices, culinary art, pastry, tailoring, screen printing, and sewing.

MECC implemented a Grants Program, which included an advanced business course for 22 beneficiaries from Damascus and its rural areas who passed the basic business course.

In an effort to support Syrian society and address its needs, MECC distributed 255 food kits to families affected by the fires that broke out in a number of villages in the Christian Valley and Safita.

MECC supported 135 cancer patients who are affected and displaced, from different Syrian governorates through providing needed cancer medications.

The MECC Service and Relief Department - Diakonia organized vocational training courses for 175 women, with the aim of developing their abilities and enhancing their skills.

The MECC Service and Relief Department - Diakonia organized psychosocial support sessions for 248 citizens living in Mount Lebanon and its South.

Amid the economic crises in Lebanon, the team of Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 800 people affected by the difficult living conditions, by providing medical services, which prices are increasing daily.

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio sigue desempeñando su función de socorro en las víctimas de Beirut, en respuesta a las necesidades urgentes derivadas por la explosión del Puerto y sus repercusiones catastróficas.