The situation for Christians in Syria varies from city to city, according to local sources, and Christians have greeted with cautious optimism the transitional Government’s guarantees to respect religious freedom. Christian leaders in Syria have expressed their willingness to work with the provisional government, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s [...]
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is making an urgent appeal for prayer and support for the Christian community and all residents of Aleppo, Syria, who are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis following the recent occupation of the city by anti-government rebel groups, some of whom have clear jihadist [...]
Fifteen Catholic families are able to return to the Christian quarter of a suburb of Damascus thanks to the reconstruction of their homes with the help of ACN. This will secure the Christian presence in the place where, according to one tradition, the conversion of the Apostle Paul occurred. An [...]
Priests and religious Sisters in Lebanon have explained how the solar panels donated by ACN have enabled them to survive soaring energy costs. Basic necessities like electricity are prohibitively expensive in Lebanon and Syria because of an ongoing economic crisis, making renewable energy systems crucial, according to the local Church. [...]
On the first anniversary of a devastating earthquake, a bishop in Aleppo called for an end to Western economic sanctions which have plunged Syrians into abject poverty. Armenian Orthodox Bishop Magar Ashkarian of Aleppo told ACN that the sanctions imposed on Syria have caused much suffering, especially for minorities such [...]
Even the faces of the seven children look sad and serious. Somewhat tense, they sit next to their parents on the worn-out sofa. The living room is surrounded by bare, light brown walls from which the plaster is crumbling off in big flakes; in many places the brickwork is showing [...]
To celebrate this Christmas, ACN is providing 45,000 gifts to needy children in Syria and Lebanon. This year, 35,000 children in Syria and 10,000 in Lebanon will receive Christmas presents in the form of urgently needed clothing. Pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is sending over aid [...]
ACN is supporting a solidarity project that is rescuing around 300 people living in the Tabbaleh neighborhood, one of the poorest in Damascus, from absolute poverty. With the help of ACN, the local parish prepared a kitchen to offer hot meals every day to those who can no longer even [...]
Uncontrollable emigration – driven by misery, corruption and Western sanctions – is crippling the Christian community in Syria, according to an archbishop. Christian families are leaving Syria en masse because of growing societal problems, such as extreme poverty and an education system in crisis, Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs told [...]
To tackle an educational crisis in the Middle East, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is providing aid to help impoverished families educate their children and prevent the spread of extremism. ACN announced a support package for Catholic schools, pupils and teachers in Syria and Lebanon. As part of [...]
