Urgent: Countries of Concern

Syria
KILLED WHILE PRAYING
During Sunday Mass on June 22nd, a suicide bomber set off explosives at the entrance of Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria. At least 22 faithful were killed and 63 injured.

Nigeria
SET ON FIRE AND MACHETED
On June 13th, extremists attacked the Christian town of Yelewata in Nigeria. Up to 200 people were massacred as they slept. Shelters were set on fire. Anyone who tried to escape was macheted.

Lebanon
ON THE BRINK OF DESPAIR
Mass displacement. No food or basic items. Economic failure. Families unable to provide for their children. Catholic schools shutting down. Every aspect of daily life has been touched by despair in Lebanon.
News of the Suffering and Persecuted
Religious freedom panel urges Washington to demand pledges from Syrian government
The security situation in Syria remains highly unstable, leaving Christian communities in constant fear of being targeted by terrorist attacks, according to one Christian in the country. His comments were in reaction to a new report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which recommends that the US government require Syria’s transitional government to improve religious freedom conditions before ...
Spokesman for the Archdiocese of Sarajevo reflects on Srebenica massacre
Thirty years ago, on July 11, 1995, at least 8,372 men were murdered by troops under Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, in the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica in Bosnia. Between 40,000 and 60,000 people had taken refuge in an area controlled by United Nations peacekeepers, who had committed to protecting the population. The victims, overwhelmingly Muslim, were men between the ages of ...
ACN provides summer camps and activities for almost 100,000 children in 15 countries
For many children from poor or war-stricken communities, summer camps and other activities are an opportunity to have fun and grow in the faith in a secure environment, accompanied by religious and Church workers. Almost 100,000 children are benefiting from summer camps and other activities funded by pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) this summer. For many years, ...
Lebanon: The Church remains vibrant despite ongoing crisis
The Church in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley is thriving, despite the ongoing armed conflict and economic instability. Christian families and individuals are offering a powerful witness by looking after those displaced by the war. New religious congregations are also on the rise, helping to keep the Faith alive in Christianity’s heartland in the Middle East. The Beqaa Valley, known as Lebanon’s breadbasket, ...
Public memorial to victims of 2022 Nigeria church attack demolished
Like the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, a public memorial park dedicated to the victims of a deadly Pentecost Sunday attack on a church in Nigeria provided consolation to those who lost loved ones. Now, for reasons that are still unclear, the Governor of Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria, decided to demolish the public memorial. The demolition was carried out earlier ...
A friend, a shepherd, a witness: ACN remembers Iraqi bishop
It is with sadness and gratitude that Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) bids farewell to Bishop Paul Thabet Habib of Alqosh, who passed away on June 20, following a battle with cancer. To us, he was not only a close partner, but a true companion in mission. Bishop Thabet Habib Yousif Mansor Almako played a key role during the ...
A Catholic charity serving our suffering and persecuted brothers and sisters around the world since 1947
Projects of the Month
A Convent for the St. Vincent’s Sisters in Belize
Belize is a small country of only about 400,000 souls in Central America. Since it is a former British colony, ...
Help for the Priestly Formation of 76 Religious in Nigeria
Nigeria is a dangerous country for Christians, especially for priests. In the past 10 years, over 150 priests were abducted, ...
A Tent for Youth Meetings and Pastoral Events in Ukraine
As a result of the war, most people in Ukraine are suffering fear, trauma, and psychological stress, while many are ...