Report 1 to 13 April 2021

Recently, the IMF revised its projections of the real GDP growth in the (MENA) region to increase it to 4 percent in 2021, an upgrade of 0.9 percent relative to the fund’s October projections. This is due to the fact that MENA countries have managed to lessen the impacts of the pandemic on their economies through certain policies that set the balance between the people’s health and the protection of the economy.

On the 9th of April 2021, two German firms unveiled a reconstruction plan that would turn Beirut port and its surroundings into a major lucrative area, according to European standards. Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, Colliers Germany’s managing director Hermann Schnell stated “affordable housing for families, green space and good infrastructure” is one of the goals of the project.

In the framework of its efforts to support students to continue their education, MECC implemented remedial classes for 9th grade students in Aleppo and Rural Damascus Governorates.

The classes addressed all necessary information in the curriculum in order to improve the academic level of students to enable them pass the 9th grade official exams successfully.

As a follow-up to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq, Middle East Council of Churches President on behalf of the Catholic family and Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako met with MECC General Secretary Dr. Michel Abs, Assistant Secretary General Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros and departments directors.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 4 to 12 April 2021

The Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat issued its annual report for the year 2020, a year in review burdened by challenges and obstacles in the world in general, and the Middle East in particular. The East witnessed a never-ending cycle of crises for decades now.

The deadly outbreak of the Coronavirus has had many negative repercussions on people’s mental health, especially women and children, who are considered to be the most vulnerable. The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office, organized many psychological and social support sessions allowing participants to restore their normal life activities.

An online meeting will be held next week, and will include the Associates General Secretaries and the staff team of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the Council's partners in the international ecumenical family.

This meeting, which is held annually, and sometimes at a higher pace, is usually a platform for interaction, exchange of ideas and discussion on forward-looking directions and action plans for the Middle East Council of Churches.

MECC provided awarenes for COVID-19 to families in Deir Al Bakeht, Dara’a Governorate, through visiting 2047 families in their homes.

The families were introduced to disease transmission methods and infection symptoms and were given tips on how to strengthen their immune system.

8 months following the catastrophic Beirut Port Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its response to the urgent necessities and losses resulting from it and its tremendous repercussions, through supporting the affected people, especially amid the deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Report: 6 April 2021

In a bid to fight the pandemic in the Middle East and worldwide, the UAE declared that it will start producing Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from April.

This is especially good news for the countries of the Arab world as the UAE, which has always been the benefactor of many ME nations.

Actualmente, Francia y Alemania lideran los esfuerzos para reparar los daños causados por la explosión del puerto. Francia está aportando €500,000 euros para restaurar los vitrales y el histórico primer piso del Museo Sursock de Beirut.

Por su parte, Alemania tiene previsto presentar una propuesta en la que detallará sus posibles esfuerzos de reconstrucción.

Currently, France and Germany are leading efforts to repair the damage caused by the port blast. France is contributing €500,000 to restore the vibrant stained-glass windows and historic first floor of Beirut’s Sursock Museum. As for Germany, it plans to submit a proposal detailing its prospective reconstruction efforts. However, Germany’s assistance will only come at a price Lebanese politician cannot afford: the formation of a government with a clear anti-corruption agenda.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 29 March to 6 April 2021

Celebrating together the Feast of the Resurrection Deepens Fraternal Communion And Solidifies the Spirit of Unity

Will the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025 be the date that will unite Christians on Easter?

For several decades now, unifying the date of Easter among all churches has been a problem that goes back to the emergence of early Christianity. However, the dream of “unity” on Easter, at least, has become something believers are thirsty for today, especially with massive differences and divisions in the Middle East where different ecclesiastical families live.

The slaves and their servants did not know in the presence of whom they were, so they acted in a mad, cruel, and arbitrary way!

The day the master stood before his executioners, with their different appellations, listening and bearing all the accusations and insults, he knew that he would redeem those who were waiting for him and did not know that he had come to them as a redeemer.

Should we come to consider the church calendars showing the date of the feasts that we celebrate, both according to the Eastern as well as well as according to the Western Church Traditions, we will find out that they all show a period of 18 to 19 weeks revolving around the celebration of Easter. And should we take a closer look, we would realize that the date of the celebration of the Feast of Easter changes from one year to another.

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 1997.

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of a special episode about the Middle East Council of Churches on “Tourath Men Nour" program (Arabic for: “Heritage of Light") broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat, and produced by the Romanian Cultural Society. During the episode, Dr. Abs shed the light on the Council’s history, mission, structure, role, past accomplishments and future goals.

En una actualización que podría alegrar el día, el nuevo juez comisionado está investigando a la empresa registrada en el Reino Unido Savaro Ltd, la entidad que compró las 2,750 toneladas de nitrato de amonio que explotó en el puerto de Beirut. Según Al-Jadeed, el juez Tarek Bitar está presentando una solicitud para que Suiza, Estados Unidos, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Chipre y Alemania levanten el secreto bancario de las cuentas de la empresa.