SYRIA: The Bleeding Wound of Emigration
The number of Christians in Aleppo fell dramatically during the war, from 180,000 before the war to 32,000 today. Joseph Tobji, Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo and shepherd of a small community of about 400 families, spoke with Pierre Macqueron of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). [...]
MIRIAM, The voice of Aleppo
In Aleppo, the number of Christians shrank fivefold during the war. Now the economic crisis and the lack of professional employment opportunities are a source of anguish, especially for the young. The performers are a choir of 60 or so children and young people, supported by five musicians. It is [...]
In Aleppo, Syria, ‘the pain, poverty, and hunger we’ve endured are enough’
ANTOINE HADDAD, 19, a member of the Armenian Catholic Church, grew up at the height of the Syrian civil war, amidst chaos and violence. The first bombings of Aleppo destroyed parts of his home. He gives a glimpse of his suffering in this interview with Aid to the Church in [...]
Eighth Anniversary of the Outbreak of Civil War in Syria
How ACN is helping Christian families in Syria – 308 emergency aid projects. By Raquel Martin Today is the eighth anniversary of the outbreak of civil war in Syria. Friday, 15 March marks the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Syria. The international Catholic pastoral charity Aid [...]
Christians in Syria divided on returning
A bad day for Selma. Today, the Syrian mother of three children had to watch her oldest son leave for Lebanon. “My son had to go because of the difficulties. It was hard to say goodbye,” she says, fighting back tears as she washes a few coffee cups. “I don’t [...]
“Being able to continue with my studies was what kept my hopes alive during the war.”
Thanks to the help of the international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation ACN, the great majority of Christian university students in Syria have been able to continue their studies. Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria the foundation has given over 3.6 million Euros in support of these [...]
Christmas Returns to the Homes and Churches of Syria
How the feast will be celebrated by local Christians and refugee families in Marmarita and Homs by Josué Villalón Syria is a country still living today with suffering and death. Even though the war that has been the scourge of the country since 2011 has almost ceased to be headline [...]
“We didn’t want to leave our home, but the roof fell on us”
How ACN is helping the local Church in Homs to distribute aid for fuel and heating “We didn’t want to leave our home, but the roof fell on us.We had no choice.” Remond Ziade was 72 years old in that first year of the war in Homs, one of the [...]