Latest updates and humanitarian response

Report #3

Reporting Period: From September 3 to September 9, 2020

As part of the follow-up to the practical recommendations expressed by the youth during the online meetings held by the Council of Middle East Churches on the 25th & 26th August 2020 and in the belief of their active role in the disaster relief of Beirut, the department of Theological Affairs and Ecumenical Relations, in partnership and cooperation with the Great Youth and the Theological Seminary Department of the Roman Catholic-Rabbwa Patriarchate, organize the program of "healing from psychological trauma and spiritual advice" on the 12th and 19th of September 2020.

A month after the catastrophic blast that hit the Beirut port, the Diakonia Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its disaster relief work on the field, within the framework of the appeal launched by the Council to help all those affected and injured. Therefore, the department launched a new partnership with Tearfund, a relief and humanitarian agency located in London, to target the most vulnerable people among those affected by the blast, with unrestricted cash assistance.

MECC and its member churches working together for the relief and reconstruction of the stricken capital

At the invitation of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Souraya Bechealany and with the blessings of the heads of the member churches and the metropolitans of Beirut's dioceses, the Beirut Appeal’s Ecumenical Committee held its first meeting in order to organize and coordinate the humanitarian and relief work between the Council and the churches in Beirut and follow up on the disaster relief operation targeting the biggest number possible of people affected by the Beirut blast.

Under the framework of the solidarity visit done by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican’s Secretary of State, to Beirut on the 3rd of September, 2020, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), represented by its Secretary General Dr. Souraya Behealany and the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Fr. Gaby Hachem, participated in the reception ceremony. In addition, they participated in the meeting held by Cardinal Parolin with the spiritual leaders in Lebanon.

Conseil des Eglises chrétiennes du Moyen-Orient

Le 20 août 2020, le Conseil des Églises du Moyen-Orient (CEMO/MECC) a lancé cet appel aux Églises du monde et à ses partenaires: Christ est vraiment ressuscité, il est ressuscité ! Depuis 2000 ans, les chrétiens du Moyen-Orient ont continuellement proclamé la Résurrection du Christ pour exprimer à la fois leur foi et leur confrontation avec la mort, la plus grande menace pour l’humanité et la création. En raison de sa vivacité religieuse, culturelle et commerciale et de sa présence au cœur du monde antique, leur région n'a jamais vraiment connu une paix authentique, si ce n’est pour de courtes périodes.

The Journalist Huguette Salameh, Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, was the guest of "Al Mawa’d" program broadcasted on Maryam TV. During her interview, she mentioned the humanitarian and disaster relief role the MECC is executing since its foundation in 1974, in addition to its mission and goals. She also highlighted the MECC Beirut Appeal issued due to the Beirut Port explosion that occurred on the 4th of August 2020.

Ziad El Sayegh, MECC Policies and Communication Advisor, was the guest of “Good Evening” (Masa’ El Kheir in Arabic) program broadcasted on the Egyptian TV ME SAT. During his interview over the phone, he highlighted the latest news regarding the destructive Beirut port explosion which occurred on August 4, and its enormous repercussions. He also underlined the MECC role in helping the afflicted Beirut and its distressed people, thanking His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for responding to the Council’s appeal by sending a shipment of aid offered by the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 31 August to 7 September 2020

One month has passed since the Beirut Port explosion, that devastated the capital of light, freedom, wisdom, joy and living together, transforming it into a capital stricken at the core. For four weeks, the Lebanese people have lived an endless period of great pain. August 4, 2020, 6:07 pm… A date that Lebanese will never forget, after they have witnessed moments of terror in a city that drowned, in less than minutes, under rubble and debris. In a few seconds, this disaster stole from 300,000 Lebanese their loved ones, friends, houses, properties and livelihoods… This disaster claimed 200 lives and left 6,500 injured.

The video is a tribute to the wounded Beirut. It was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Para Una Investigación Internacional Transparente Sobre El Bombardeo Del Puerto De Beirut Y Por La Justicia Y El Apoyo a Los Libaneses

En el lapso de un mes después de la catástrofe de la explosión de Beirut, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), la Alianza ACT y el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC) presentaron sus condolencias a todos los libaneses que perdieron a sus seres queridos en la catastrófica explosión que se produjo en el corazón de Beirut el 4 de agosto de 2020. Declararon su solidaridad con los afligidos, los heridos, los desplazados y los que sufren.

Thursday August 31, 2020

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) including Father Gaby Alfred Hachem, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department (TED), Sister Emily Tannous, Coordinator of the Department, and Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, representing Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, visited the Coptic Orthodox Church in Sin El Fil, to meet with His Eminence Anba Antonius, Coptic Bishop of Jerusalem, Lebanon, Kuwait and the Gulf and to welcome Coptic Monk Timon Al-Suriani, who was appointed as the new Head of the Coptic Church in Lebanon.

On the lapse of a month after the Beirut blast disaster, the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presented their condolences to all Lebanese people who lost their loved ones in the catastrophic explosion that ripped through the heart of Beirut on 4 August 2020. They declared their solidarity with the bereaved, the injured, the displaced and the suffering.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) present their condolences to all Lebanese people who lost their loved ones in the catastrophic explosion that ripped through the heart of Beirut on 4 August 2020. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved, the injured, the displaced and the suffering. On behalf of the international ecumenical community, ACT Alliance is launching an appeal as part of the international humanitarian response to this disaster, and we join in calling on the international community for a comprehensive humanitarian mechanism of coordination and collaboration with Lebanese civil society.

The month of August 2020 in Lebanon was nothing like other months that Lebanese people have ever lived. Since the 4th of August 2020, Beirut was turned into a devastated city and dreams were buried under rubble and ashes. The young capital bid farewell to its young heroes, some through tragic funerals and others in the gloomy airport hall. The month of August has now ended, on the sound of mothers’ tears; mothers whose hearts were shattered as their children left them. However, in every ending there is a new beginning. Amidst all these painful events, hope remains the only source of strength for many young people who chose to remain in their homeland, among their suffering families and brethren. Beirut today draws strength and hope from every young man and woman, in order to stand tall again.

Latest updates and humanitarian response

Report #2

Reporting Period: From 27 August to 2 September, 2020

Within the framework of the MECC appeal to provide relief for the devastated Beirut and its afflicted people, because of the 4 August blast, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria hastened to respond to the appeal by offering a shipment of aid included 26 tons of food products, medicines and medical supplies. Following up the process of distributing it to beneficiaries, the MECC Diakonia Department’s team and a group of youth volunteers sorted the offered products and medical supplies, divided and packed them.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "AL Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

MECC organized a crochet training for 19 women aged between 18 to 45 from Rural Damascus. The trainees learned the basic principles of crocheting and the way to use one needle to crochet squares and gather them to form different shapes, such as: table covers, bed covers, blankets, shawls and other cloths or crafts that can be knitted with crochet.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 24 to 31 August 2020