On the day the angel of the Lord came to a city from Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, to a virgin who was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, and the name of the virgin was Mary, humankind was not to know the importance and the perspective of that visit.

On the day the angel appeared to the blessed, greeted her, and said, “The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Neither she nor humankind knew what was coming would be.

From the archive of the Middle East Council of Churches: an enlightening stance of its role in building bridges and interfaith dialogue dating back to 2004.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). With these words the Virgin Mary put a start to the history of mankind and Christianity. Had it not been for her obedience to God, there wouldn’t have been a union between the divine and the human nature.

Report: 22 March 2021

All listed countries recorded additional cases and new deaths. Nevertheless, the rate of such numbers generally have decreased indicating partial success due to the vaccine rollout.

Ten years have passed since the outbreak of the war in Syria. This war has left behind a worsening humanitarian crisis and is classified as the largest since World War II.

Ten years have passed, leaving behind the largest refugee crisis in the world with 5.6 million Syrians displaced to neighboring countries, 6.7 million others forced to leave their homes and relocate and large numbers of martyrs and permanently wounded citizens.

Within the Livestock and Poultry Program, MECC team continues to support poor and affected families to help them overcome difficult living conditions and empower them to participate in the economic life.

The MECC Team distributed 30 laying hens to 111 families in Al-Sanamayn and 89 families in Ghabagheb in rural Dara’a, providing coops, fodder mixture kits, vaccines, vitamins, and veterinary services to vulnerable households.

Several months after the Beirut blast, researchers from India's National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, and Hokkaido University in Japan made an astounding discovery. It turns out that the electrical disturbances that resulted from the blast was comparable to the impact of many volcanic eruptions.

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, women marched next to the area where the explosion had occurred. Of course, they were the mothers of victims who perished on August 4. They held up high banners, which called on the political elite to surrender power.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 15 to 22 March 2021

The World Council of Churches dedicates a Week of Prayers (March 22-27) to fighting the menacing COVID-19 pandemic. It has just released the prayers in digital format via the publication called “Voices of Lament, Hope, and Courage”.

A beacon for the displaced to return

If rocks could talk, the buildings of Ishakian School and St. Mesrob Church would have told an ancient story that goes back to 1915. It all started when Armenian people crossed the Syrian Desert, fleeing the Ottoman genocide, and settled in the Old City of Homs where they found a shelter.

As time goes on witnessing human groups migrating from a community that oppresses them as they seek refuge and solace in a society that welcomes them offering them a decent life in concordance with their aspirations, our human togetherness becomes a sort of mosaic bearing in its bosom the seeds of disintegration, discord, and perhaps even the sparks of civil wars.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches wrote to congratulate His Beatitude, the revered Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon to the Chaldeans and Chairman of the Middle East Council of Churches, on the success the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq.

The Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs sent telegrams to both the Iraqi President Dr. Barham Salih and the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, congratulating and thanking them for the exceptional reception of the Pope, the peace-bearer, to Iraq and the region and the preparations made.

The deadly Coronavirus imposed challenges at every level and forced people to turn their lives upside down. However, we can see a glimmer of hope in many situations despite this exacerbating health battle. This microscopic virus didn’t spare anyone as we became aware of the important presence of many around us, those making efforts and sacrifices with patience, hoping they would win the battle.

Ignorando su dolor, el Pontífice de ochenta y cinco años fue a visitar una región muy querida para él, considerada la cuna de su fe, sin importarle los obstáculos de la enfermedad, la seguridad o las desuniones.

Desde la altura de su posición, el Sumo Pontífice miró a un pueblo muerto por las divisiones y a los creyentes dispersos por las guerras en todas las partes del mundo, y les dijo «Aquí vengo en peregrinación hacia ustedes, donde están, para fortalecerlos y apoyarlos en los momentos difíciles que atraviesan».

Report: 15 March 2021

Despite the beginning of vaccination campaigns in the Middle East, health experts warn that the rate at which vaccines are entering each country is too low. Moreover, not all countries have begun such a campaign as they have yet to receive vaccines.

Report: 1 to 15 March 2021

ME nations still struggle to receive their doses of vaccines, while bearing the economic burdens they have dragged over the years. Local political classes continue to relish in their offices, luxury homes and warm palaces, while hungry cries fill the street. This is just another day in an unequal Middle East.

MASS Depression

Months after the explosion, all forms of investigation seem to be restarting from square one, to say the least. Beleaguered with an unstoppable pandemic, a broken economy, and a corrupt political system, Lebanese haven’t ever been so depressed in history.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 8 to 15 March 2021