Speaking one year after the terrible earthquake that affected Syria and Turkey, Xavier Stephen Bisits, ACN’s head of section for Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt, summed up the impact of the natural disaster: “February 6 was a turning point in the life of most families in Northern Syria. I will never forget the scenes in the days and weeks after the earthquake. With that said, life is gradually returning to normal. With God’s help, ACN has been able to assess and repair much of the community infrastructure belonging to the Church. We have completed projects to reinforce and repair not just schools and kindergartens, but also parish halls and youth centres. The regular pastoral and social life of the Church has slowly returned. Our program to reinforce homes, so people can safely return, is continuing.”
As part of its response, ACN directly assessed the needs of all 14 affected dioceses after the earthquake and led a program of 28 projects totaling more than $1.82 million.
“With that said, life is not normal. Northern Syrian has one of the most vulnerable civilian populations on earth, with more than 90% of the population living in poverty. We are committed to long-term support for vulnerable groups, including retreats to address the trauma, as well as medical aid and aid for the Catholic education system. Sadly, the emigration in the past 12 months, especially in Aleppo, has dramatically accelerated, with many families leaving for Canada. This is the reality. As a pontifical charity, however, we are determined to make sure that those who want to stay in their homeland have the tools to do so.”
Thank you for continuing your support in Syria.
