was launched on the practical level despite the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Steering Committee of the "Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria" held an online meeting that gathered the representatives of the participating churches, representatives of Kerk in Actie (KiA) – Netherlands, which is the donor of the program, and senior officials from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, was the guest of “Bachar Mech Hajar” program on Radio Free Lebanon (RLL), with the journalist Jana Ghazi to discuss the joint appeal issued by 17 Lebanese faith-based organizations, in response to the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity’s latest initiative.

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In response to the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity’s latest initiative, The Middle East Council of Churches renews its appeal for people to actively participate tomorrow, on the 14th of May 2020, in a day of prayer, fasting, invocation, and charity, each according to his/her own religion or sect or belief, asking God to help us overcome the Corona pandemic which is threatening the lives of millions of people, to inspire scientists to discover the appropriate cure, and to save the world from the medical, economic, and human consequences of this detrimental virus.

Sr. Emilie Tannous, the coordinator of the MECC Thelogical and Ecumenical Department, was the guest of "Kel Yowm bi Ywomu" program on Voice of Van radio station, and the guest of “Alive” program on MTV. The discussions were about the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity’s appeal to observe the 14th of May 2020 as a day of joint prayer, fasting and good deeds.

Interview with Fr. Gabi Hachem, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department on Voice of All Lebanon radio station, with the journalist Johnny Sadiq. The discussion was about the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity’s appeal to observe the 14th of May 2020 as a day of joint prayer, fasting and good deeds.

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the MECC is entrusted with the task of ensuring that prayer is accompanied by words and deeds

Dr Souraya Bechealany, the Middle East Council of Churches’ Secretary General, was the guest of a program broadcasted on OTV and entitled “Yawm Jadid”, which means in English “New Day”. During the online interview on Skype, Bechealany highlighted the joint appeal issued by 17 Lebanese faith-based organizations.

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the MECC is entrusted with the task of ensuring that prayer is accompanied by words and deeds

Dr Souraya Bechealany, the Middle East Council of Churches’ Secretary General, was the guest of a program broadcasted on OTV and entitled “Yawm Jadid”, which means in English “New Day”. During the online interview on Skype, Bechealany highlighted the joint appeal issued by 17 Lebanese faith-based organizations, in response to the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity’s latest initiative, launched under the patronage of his Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb.

In a joint letter to heads of states that are part of the European Union, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) appealed for a firm and principled stance by the European Union against any annexation by Israel of occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) appeal for a firm and principled stance by the European Union against any annexation by the State of Israel of occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank. Any such annexation would constitute a grave violation of international law and, as UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has observed, "deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace."

Joint Appeal In Response to the Global Initiative for “Human Fraternity”

We pray together on the 14th of May 2020

The team of Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), which is affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 400 deprived Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi families protect themselves against COVID-19.

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Through their ongoing activities, the Diakonia department and the Department for the Service of Palestinian refugees (DSPR) continue to serve the weak and the poor, especially during this exceptional period resulting from the widespread outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its economic and social repercussions on the Middle East.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 20 April to 5 May 2020

MECC rehabilitated WASH facilities in three schools in Rural Damascus in addition to a school in Aleppo in order to improve the hygienic conditions at those establishments. 2462 students and school staff benefited from this rehabilitation.

Despite its widespread outbreak around the world, the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) did not hinder the work of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical department (TED) who was determined to continue the “Kairos Middle East Towards Churches Global Compact” process online. In fact, the fifth consultation seminar was expected to be held between the 12th and 14th of March 2020 in Egypt; therefore, the organizing committee decided to turn the event into an online seminar instead of cancelling it.

The MECC member Churches’ presidents have responded to the call of Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, for an online meeting, each one from his self-quarantine.

There is no doubt, that the infectivity rate of the covid-19 pandemic has receded over the past few days, ushering glimmers of hope to a world that awaits any subtle sign which could give it relief. Nations had implemented lockdowns, have shut their land and sea borders, and closed their airports in an attempt to quell the spread; which they have succeeded in doing so. Despite this good news and despite all collective efforts, the World Food Program has warned that the global pandemic is in a stage where it can cause global famines of 'biblical proportions,' if not addressed while the WHO (World Health Organization) claimed that the virus will stay with us ‘for a long time’.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 20 to 28 April 2020

Amid the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the team of Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), which is affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 400 deprived Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi families protect themselves against COVID-19. The team distributed hygiene kits to those families in addition to flyers including visual guidance to raise awareness about prevention methods.

A call for solidarity and social action with the refugee and displaced communities

The Middle East Council of Churches, Adyan Foundation, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut and the UNHCR took a unified ethical stance inspired by faith, and jointly decided to meet and discuss the repercussions of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on refugees and host communities. As they are all aware of the need to promote solidarity in order to overcome these difficult times, they issued together a joint statement.