The Voice of the suffering in Middle East

Since the military operation against Hamas began, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily rocket fire in southern Lebanon. For the people who live there, this violence it is reminiscent of the 2006 war and, local religious leaders say, is a threat to the historic Christian presence in the region.

“There is no hope here. The situation gets worse every day,” says the father, whose eyes are sunken. The mother adds, “The only thing I ask God for every day is that He protect my children and provide them with something to eat.”

According to ACN’s project partners, the two women killed were Samar Anton and her mother Nahida. Both were fatally injured when they tried to get to safety in a parish building. The Latin Patriarchate said that the snipers were Israeli military, which the Israel Defense Forces have denied.  

In both countries, clothes are almost unobtainable. Sister Annie Demerjian of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, who has worked on this project with ACN for years, laments, “Many families here can only dream of new clothes! These days, to buy a pair of trousers, a shirt, and shoes in Syria, you need two months of minimum wage.”

While the situation in Gaza worsens every day, thousands of Christians in the Holy Land have already benefited from ACN support, including meals, food coupons, payments for rent or utilities, and medical supplies.

"The serious challenges facing our country are the results of corruption and the oppressive sanctions of Syria, which directly affect the people."