From the archive of the Middle East Council of Churches: an enlightening stance of its role in building bridges and interfaith dialogue dating back to 1997.

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of a special episode about the Middle East Council of Churches on “Tourath Men Nour" program (Arabic for: “Heritage of Light") broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat, and produced by the Romanian Cultural Society. During the episode, Dr. Abs shed the light on the Council’s history, mission, structure, role, past accomplishments and future goals.

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.

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

On the day the angel of the Lord came to a city from Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, to a virgin who was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, and the name of the virgin was Mary, humankind was not to know the importance and the perspective of that visit.

On the day the angel appeared to the blessed, greeted her, and said, “The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Neither she nor humankind knew what was coming would be.

From the archive of the Middle East Council of Churches: an enlightening stance of its role in building bridges and interfaith dialogue dating back to 2004.

“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.

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.

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.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 15 to 22 March 2021

The World Council of Churches dedicates a Week of Prayers (March 22-27) to fighting the menacing COVID-19 pandemic. It has just released the prayers in digital format via the publication called “Voices of Lament, Hope, and Courage”.

A beacon for the displaced to return

If rocks could talk, the buildings of Ishakian School and St. Mesrob Church would have told an ancient story that goes back to 1915. It all started when Armenian people crossed the Syrian Desert, fleeing the Ottoman genocide, and settled in the Old City of Homs where they found a shelter.

As time goes on witnessing human groups migrating from a community that oppresses them as they seek refuge and solace in a society that welcomes them offering them a decent life in concordance with their aspirations, our human togetherness becomes a sort of mosaic bearing in its bosom the seeds of disintegration, discord, and perhaps even the sparks of civil wars.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches wrote to congratulate His Beatitude, the revered Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon to the Chaldeans and Chairman of the Middle East Council of Churches, on the success the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq.