Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 1 to 8 February 2021

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon Father Timon Al-Suriani: Love, acceptance of others, and coexistence were not words written in books and treaties, but vivid prints stamped by history on the forehead of the country…

It is true that wars and conflicts have dominated and burdened the Middle East, but a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow is evident in several situations. In Egypt, citizens have experienced fraternal and human coexistence between Christians and Muslims for several decades now. This was the highlight of the dialogue of the head of the Coptic Church in Lebanon, Father Timon al-Suriani in an interview with the Communication and Public Relations Department in the Middle East Council of Churches.

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.

We unite to face together the Coronavirus, for in the midst of the storm, we fear nothing for God is with us.

And when we shout together “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”, we hear his voice calming the storm around us and saying “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4 : 35-40

A Prayer to the Creator - His Holiness Pope Francis

Lord, Father of our human family,
you created all human beings equal in dignity:
pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit
and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter,
dialogue, justice and peace.

Friday February 12, 2021

At 7:00 pm

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4 : 35-40

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.

February 4th, International Day of Human Fraternity!

Since 2020, February 4th is no longer just another day, now it represents an international call to end violence and hatred hostile speeches… it is now a day that reminds us of our fraternity no matter our nationality, ethnicity, society or religion… it is an invitation to work towards peace, justice and stability… hoping to live the rest of our days by the command of Jesus Christ “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 34:13.

Among the concepts related to Social Capital, the notion of Building Bridges comes as a fundamental stage in building social capital, or what they call in English, Bridging.

As dire socioeconomic conditions grip the country, victims of the Beirut blast are still being affected the most. The Norwegian Refugee Council warned in a statement on its website, of a new wave of homeless people, 6 months after the Beirut explosion.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 25 January to 1 February 2021

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.

Non-governmental organizations, NGOs, or so-called civil society institutions, and at certain times called private voluntary groups or PVOs, are non-profit organizations that are established according to a special law that defines their work and regulations.

“I ask you to walk with humility, meekness, and a lot of patience, bearing one another in love”

“For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (Galatians 1:13). With these words said publicly, the Apostle Paul confessed to his sin and announced his commitment to Judaism in his letter to Galatians.

HE Bishop Joseph Mouawad: Love makes us accept different people as a gift from God… and unity must be founded on truth and love!

In the course of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations in the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops organized, in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches, a virtual meeting and an Ecumenical prayer in the evening of Sunday January 24, 2021.

When comes to finding the truth, Lebanon is not the only country to suffer from red tape. Two senior British parliamentarians called for an investigation into a British-registered company probably related to the Beirut blast. They called upon UK authorities to investigate it, given inaccurate information appears to have been filed.

The MECC Secretary General: unity is not a lack of diversity, but rather an organization of it, and what is important is for unity to remain in diversity

… The decision is yours!

At the day eight of prayers, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” ended after daily prayers that sowed hope and desire to achieve this unity at which the Middle East Council of Churches had always strived, since its establishment in 1974. This year was exceptional since public celebrations were postponed due to the outbreak of the pandemic worldwide.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 18 to 25 January 2021

“USA Interests Can Be Pursued Without Collectively Punishing the Syrian People”

Once again, in defence of human rights and human dignity, the Middle East Council of Churches renewed its call for the lift of the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people, violating their right to live in dignity and anticipating an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the region.

To pray together on Sunday January 24, 2021

On the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", the Middle East Council of Churches, and in cooperation with the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations in the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops, is inviting you to participate in a virtual meeting and an Ecumenical prayer, on Sunday January 24, 2021 at 6 PM GMT.