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.

Pursuing its goal to serve society by supporting the novel Coronavirus prevention measures, MECC manufactured 5000 face masks that meet international standards.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 12 to 20 April 2020

Within the framework established to counter the spread of COVID-19 in several regions of the world such as the Middle East and due to increasing numbers of contaminated people in places that were already staggering under the burden of numerous economic, social and health repercussions like Syria and Lebanon, the Middle East Council of churches is launching a humanitarian appeal in an attempt to alleviate the suffering of people affected by this unprecedented global pandemic.

MECC supported workers in the dairy industry – cattle raising and dairy production, processing and retail - in nine different areas in Dara’a Governorate. The livestock project targeted 460 families. MECC distributed 2 tons of fortified fodder and 20 liter-stainless steel milk containers to 400 breeders who own 900 cows.

After receiving a special message that Mr António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, addressed to religious leaders and authorities on 11 April 2020, urging them to join forces in coping with COVID-19, especially during the Easter season and Ramadan, Dr Souraya Bechealany, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), responded to the call in a letter, in which she commended his initiative that left a positive impact on MECC and on its partners of various faith based organizations, religious Christian leaders and leaders of other religions with whom it shares a common responsibility.

MECC distributed barley seeds to 600 farmers in Dara’a Governorate in order to support the agricultural sector. The distributed seeds are sufficient to plant 1.5 hectares per beneficiary. In addition, MECC covered the costs of land cultivation and seed sowing.

On 26 March, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Regional Ecumenical Organizations released a historic joint pastoral statement affirming the urgency of standing together to protect life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The WCC has since been gathering viewpoints from diverse regions about the importance of taking care of our one human family.

As we approach Holy Week we are all reminded that staying at home is the safest way to celebrate our faith and to ensure that our traditions, communal prayerful rites and rituals would be sustained for years to come. Many of us at DSPR have been invigorated by the Services and Hymns on social media networks by our various faith communities. From the Pope’s exceptional prayer with his blessing for the City and the World to Hymns sung by the Greek Orthodox Mount of Lebanon Choir to the World Council of Churches statements and prayers which offered hope and solidarity.

Since the Middle East Council of Churches has a social responsibility, it is contributing to raising awareness in order to prevent the virus, by adopting the reports and publications of many international bodies and organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).