Report: 16 to 28 February 2021

With the arrival of the vaccine to the region, many wonder whether national vaccination plans will succeed. This is specially the case for countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine, where each face a different set of hurdles, related to either financial instability, rampant corruption, or besieging state.

In a main news item presented by a Tunisian media agency, it suggested that the materials that caused the explosion at the Beirut port on the fourth of last August came from Tunisia. Due to the disappearance of a very significant amount of "ammonium" from the chemical complex in the Governorate of Gabes (southern Tunisia) between 2013 and 2019, such a correlation can be built.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from February 22 to March 1, 2021

New Associate Secretary General for the Catholic family appointed

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held an online meeting on Thursday 25 February, 2021 instead of attending in person, respecting the preventive measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. All the committee members from Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Cyprus and Lebanon participated.

El fundamentalismo es una ideología que somete, a los individuos y a los grupos, a todo el sistema de creencias y rituales de un pensamiento sin ninguna flexibilidad ni aceptación de la diferencia con el otro.

Los fundamentalistas manejan sus creencias con una lógica rígida que no acepta el diálogo. Es el endurecimiento de la letra contra el alma y la mente. Los fundamentalistas consideran su causa como una dimensión universal y eterna, ya que se consideran responsables del destino de la humanidad a través de su fe.

Su Santidad el Papa Francisco, la voz profética en el mundo; «Preparen el camino al Señor…» (Isaías 40, 3) y sean hermanos en humanidad (…) —lleva de nuevo, en su maleta, proyectos de amor, de perdón y de diálogo mientras se dirige a Irak con la certeza de un buen pastor que dice a los que dudan: «Quiero estar cerca de los atormentados (…)».

La visita del Papa a Mesopotamia y a la tierra de Abrahán, del 5 al 8 de marzo, es una gran esperanza para un Oriente cargado de dolor, lleno de conflictos y guerras; y promete que la visita hará un cambio en Irak.

Fundamentalism is an ideology that submits individuals and groups to the whole system of belief and rituals of a thought without any flexibility or any acceptance of difference with the other.

The fundamentalists deal with their beliefs with a rigid logic that does not accept dialogue. It is the hardening of the letter against the soul and the mind. The fundamentalists consider their cause as a universal and eternal dimension, as they consider themselves responsible for the fate of humanity through their faith.

I, as an Iraqi citizen, should feel at home in Iraq

His Holiness Pope Francis the Prophetic voice in the world; “Prepare the way for the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:3) and be brothers in humanity… - carries projects of love, forgiveness and dialogue in his suitcase once again as he makes his way to Iraq with the certainty of a good shepherd telling the doubtful: “I want to be near the tormented…”

The Pope’s visit to Mesopotamia and the land of Abraham from March 5 to 8 bears great hope for an East burdened with grief, filled with conflicts and wars, and promises that the visit will make a change in Iraq.

El Papa Francisco realizará en marzo la primera visita papal a Irak para animar a los cada vez más escasos fieles. La guerra y el terrorismo han mermado a los cristianos de la nación, pero él espera que puedan volver.

Mientras tanto, en el Líbano, Michel Abs, recientemente elegido como nuevo dirigente del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC), está de acuerdo con el pontífice.

Oriente Medio puede alegrarse con la noticia de la llegada de la vacuna a Palestina.

“Hoy nos han vuelto a matar…”

En un reciente giro de los acontecimientos, el juez Fadi Sawan fue apartado de la investigación de la explosión de Beirut por razones absurdas.

Alguien o alguna entidad quería apartarlo de la investigación y, en consecuencia, fue sustituido por el juez Tarek El Bitar.

The Middle East can rejoice with news of the arrival of the vaccine to Palestine.

“Today you have killed us all over again!...”

In a recent turn of events, Judge Fadi Sawan was removed from the investigation of Beirut Blast due to absurd reasons. Someone or some entity wanted him off the investigation and as a result, he was replaced by Judge Tarek El Bitar. Families of the victims were devastated by this news as this showed that the state would never hold the powerful to account.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 15 to 22 February 2021

Pope Francis will make the first papal visit ever to Iraq in March to encourage the dwindling faithful. War and terrorism have hemorrhaged the nation’s Christians, but he hopes they might return.

Meanwhile in Lebanon, Michel Abs, recently selected as the new leader of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), agrees with the pontiff.

Online Meeting and Evaluation of the Implementation Phase

Following up on the work of the “The Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria” program, members of the Committee in charge of following up on the program held an electronic meeting which the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs attended for the first time after his election.

Te confesamos, Señor, que hemos perseverado en nuestra pecaminosidad,

te confesamos, oh Creador del universo, que hemos corrompido tu creación,

te confesamos, Señor del universo, que hemos olvidado tus mandamientos,

te confesamos, Padre amoroso, que hemos ofendido tu amor,

te confesamos, oh Misericordioso, que no hemos mostrado misericordia entre nosotros

We confess to You, O Lord, that we have persevered in our sinfulness,

We admit to You, O creator of the universe, that we have corrupted Your creation,

We confess to You, Lord of the universe, that we have forgotten Your commandments,

We confess to You, Loving Father, that we have offended Your love,

We confess to You, O Most Merciful, that we did not show mercy to each other

Report: 1 to 15 February 2021

While coronavirus numbers seem to be stabilizing across the region with the exception of Lebanon, the World Health Organization warned that at least 13 ME countries have been infiltrated by three new COVID strains. As reported by the WHO, all three of the new variants are more contagious, requiring all people to exercise precautionary measures.

Report: 1 to 15 February 2021

With the vaccination drive beginning in many ME countries, the economy might finally start to untangle itself. Yet, discrepancies were observed in some countries as socioeconomic standards of the population or government inability to provide the vaccine, might stop them from getting vaccinated.