The fatal blast in Beirut last month became yet another blow to an already plagued country. In recent months, a financial crisis with a free-falling currency and rising unemployment has further undermined the Lebanese economy. Add to that one million Syrian refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the contours of a fragile nation facing monumental challenges emerge.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 7 to 14 September 2020

Speech of His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael Sako, during the Executive Committee meeting in Larnaca

Speech of His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon for Chaldeans and president of the Council for the Catholic Family, during the MECC Executive Committee meeting held between 21 and 22 January 2020 in Larnaca – Cyprus.

Speech of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, during the Executive Committee meeting in Larnaca

Speech of His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and president of the Council for the Greek Orthodox Family, during the MECC Executive Committee meeting held between 21 and 22 January 2020 in Larnaca – Cyprus.

The Italian Swiss radio channel RSI hosted Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, to discuss the Beirut Port blast that took place on the 4th of August, 2020, and its repercussions. She also mentioned the MECC Beirut appeal and its theological statement, for the relief of the afflicted Beirut and its affected people. In addition, Dr. Bechealany underlined the humanitarian and service role the MECC is executing ever since its foundation.

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.