Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 28 September to 5 October 2020

As His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and all the East honored me with his appreciation and overwhelmed me with his love by commissioning me and nominating me to the office of the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches,

And as You yourselves have graciously accepted this nomination,

Allow me to express to You my deepest gratitude as you have entrusted to my care this most precious talent.

Let me furthermore share with you the firm belief that I have concerning a talent for which I shall be accountable as it is put in my trust in the present historical moment we are all passing through and as we are engulfed in dangers that know no precedent.

Dr. Michel Abs received congratulations letters from international organizations, MECC member churches and friends, after being elected as MECC Secretary General for the next four years, wishing him a successful and blessed journey amid the difficult circumstances the Middle East and its churches are going through.

The DSPR Department represented by Mrs. Sylvia Haddad wished the Honorary Secretary General Dr. Souraya Bechealany luck in her future endeavors and her future mission. They presented her with a gift; a handmade scarf from “Enaach” a workshop in the Palestinian Camp in Lebanon.

The family of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) gathered in Beirut for an amicable lunch, in recognition of the Honorary General Secretary, Dr. Souraya Bechealany, who left her position as Secretary General of the Council and handed it over to the new Secretary General, Dr. Michel Abs.

A meeting was held today at the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the presence of the MECC team with the Honorary Secretary General, Dr. Souraya Bechealany and the Tearfund committee director of Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen Karen Soerensen along with the regional director of the Middle East, Martin Leacm. The meeting took place to finalize the details and to set a starting date for an Emergency Humanitarian project between both partners.

The Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), organized a Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling program in partnership and cooperation with the Youth office and the Patriarchal Seminary of the Greek Melkite Catholic Churh - Rabwa. This program targeted a group of young people from different member churches, scout and religious movements. It aims at supporting the participants psychologically and spiritually, so that they can in turn, help others the same way.

After the 4th of August, the words "explosion, port disaster, Beirut does not die, victims, destruction, funerals, injured, transparent international investigation, corruption,…” are dominating the Lebanese scene and all Lebanese conversations. Moreover, pain and sadness are at a greater depth in the Lebanese hearts; and with every sun rise the effects of the hideous crime that hit the capital are revealed further. Everyone is still under shock. Adults and young people are suffering from psychological symptoms and depression in addition to permanent health problems. How do people recuperate their wellbeing, how do they heal from such traumatic symptoms?

The UNIFIL intervenes

This week, the UNIFIL dispatched its forces to the Beirut port to support authorities with the clearing of debris and construction efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Aug. 4 port explosion. UN teams will do so in three phases, to allow operations at the port to resume as soon as possible, seeing that the country’s economy is also in ruins and every penny is needed. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that this endeavor is a good sign that Lebanon is one of the international community’s primary concern. Maybe, this is a good sign that constructive foreign intervention will increase over time, and put those who were responsible for the tragedy or for the corruption in Lebanon on their knees.

Dr. Michel Abs , the new Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, was the guest in a special episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat, during which he discussed periods of the Council’s history through which he was present. In addition he highlighted the challenges that the Council is facing today and revealed its plan for the future.

The Ecumenical Mission in progress

The transfer of the Ecumenical mission took place in the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches from Dr. Souraya Bechealany to Dr. Michel Abs who was elected by the Executive Committee of the MECC as the new Secretary General for a period of four years, during its last meeting on 18 September 2020 at Bkerki. The committee also called Bechealany an Honorary Secretary General due to her achievements, sacrifices and exceptional dynamism during her assumption of responsibility for the past three years.

With the aim of empowering poor and affected families and enhancing their ability to participate in the economic life, MECC supported the workers in the sector of producing, processing and retailing of dairy products in 17 different areas in Dara’a Governorate. MECC distributed fortified fodder to 500 cow breeders and established 4 mobile veterinary mobile clinics that provide all necessary medical services to livestock farmers including cows’ medications, vaccinations, calving, and artificial insemination.

The family of the the Middle East Council of Churches is bidding farewell to Dr. Souraya Bechealany after 3 years in her position of Secretary General; wishing her luck in her new path.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 21 to 28 September 2020

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.

The Executive committee of the Middle East Council of churches renewed its solidarity with the Lebanese people due to the Beirut blast during its meeting on the 18th of September, which was hosted by His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi in the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke - Lebanon. It also emphasized that the Council is in solidarity with those affected with the Coronavirus pandemic and they issued many decisions and recommendations.

In a 21 September letter, World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca congratulated Dr Michel Abs on being elected as the next secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches.

“When wars and conflicts, hunger and thirst, pain and loss, break our bodies and tremble our spirits, then only God’s hope, love and comfort drive us onward, steadfast, following the steps of Jesus and his disciples on the roads of Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Nineveh, Sidon and Tyre,” wrote Sauca. “This is the case of the people and the churches of the Middle East today.”

Very recently, a survey was carried out by the Lebanese army in the devastated Beirut port and it was discovered 49 containers of flammable materials, such as acid and other materials used in the manufacture of paint, and raw materials. Consequently, the army held more than one meeting with representatives of the European Union, to conclude an agreement that the European Union would undertake the financing and management of the disposal of these inflammable materials. However, these materials have been present at the port since 10 years.

At 6:07 pm Beirut time, “the ground shook beneath our feet in the emergency room, and after a few seconds, we heard the sound of an explosion, the ceiling collapsed, pieces of shattered glass were flying from all sides, and the sound of the siren became stuck in our ears”. Who knew that the 4th of August 2020 will be a catastrophic day which will change the Lebanese people’s course of life and turn the capital of Light into a devastated city? “After few moments, people began arriving in great numbers, drenched in blood and crying out in pain!” This is to describe the state of total panic in one of Beirut’s hospitals at the time of the terrible explosion that occurred on August 4.

The journalist Nawal Nasr in the highly influential political magazine “Nidaa’ Al Watan” in Beirut- Lebanon interviewed Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, about the Middle East council of Churches (MECC) as it happened to be the meeting of the Executive Committee in Bkerki to elect the new Secretary General on the 18th of September in bkerki, Lebanon.