WOUNDED, destitute and sick people in one of the cities worst affected by the conflict in Syria are to receive emergency aid amid worsening reports of crisis as winter bites deep across the region.
The aid packages totalling $290,000 being sent out by Aid to the Church in Need will provide medical help for the wounded, repairs to the war-damaged homes of Christians and basic aid – heating, food and rent money for people on the breadline.
This emergency help means that, since the Syrian crisis broke nearly three years ago, ACN urgent aid for the region has topped $4.1 million – one of the largest aid packages of its kind since the charity began in 1947.
Amid continuing dire reports from Syria, ACN pushed through this latest aid after a desperate SOS appeal from Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, who described “the bombing of many Christian homes” and the urgent need to help “many wounded people” in his city, in the north of the country.
Working under Bishop Audo’s authority, Aleppo-based Sisters of Jesus and Mary are being entrusted with $140,000 to help up to 500 families in urgent need of gas and electricity for heating and cooking as well as rent money, medical assistance, food and clothing.
A further $77,000 will fund repairs to war-damaged homes, shops and other businesses of Christians in Aleppo who are determined to stay in the country.
Bomb-blasted windows and doors are being given top priority for repairs.
At Bishop Audo’s request, another $77,000 is going to help wounded people receiving treatment at St Louis Hospital, Aleppo.
In a recent letter requesting ACN help, Sister Annie Demerjian, from the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, described the urgent need to increase help for suffering families both in Aleppo and in another northern Syrian city, Hassake, also receiving aid from the charity.
At a time of increasing reports of a widespread breakdown of schools and employment in Aleppo with bombing of factories and key services, Sr Demerjian said: “We feel the massive need to carry on providing assistance to our Christian families threatened with the loss of morale.
“The assistance will enable us to erase the families’ pain.”
Echoing the words of Bishop Audo, she said a key aim was to help Christians to stay in the region.
“Despite the dramatically difficult situation, people still do not want to leave their homes,” she said.
“So that they are not forced to emigrate, we are trying to help them survive until hopefully this present crisis is overcome.
“Many people in Aleppo and Hassake, particularly women, children and elderly are expecting us – as workers of Christ – to give a helping hand.
“Without your help, we cannot alleviate their suffering in this misery that we actually undergo in Syria.”
ACN
[divider]
