Cor Unum discussing the crisis in Syria and Iraq

On Thursday, September 17, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum is organizing a meeting to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq, to which it has invited various Christian charitable organizations that are currently operating in the Middle East as well as the bishops of that region.

This meeting, to which more than 30 organizations have indicated their participation will be structured in two major moments.  During the morning, following the introductions which will be offered by Monsignor Giampietro Dal Toso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council, there will be reports by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, and by the Under Secretary of the United Nations for Humanitarian Issues, Mister Stephen O'Brien.  There will then follow a Report concerning the humanitarian assistance being provided by various ecclesial entities in the context of the crisis in Syria and in Iraq (2014-2015), carried out by Cor Unum.

In the afternoon, following a speech by Monsignor Akaskeh Khaled, Office manager for Isalm in the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, and updates from the local Churches, which will be presented by His Excellency, Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria; His Excellency, Antoine Audo, President of Caritas Syria and His Excellency, Shelmon Warduni, Prsident of Caritas Iraq, the meeting will focus on the concrete aspects of the collaboration between various groups in Syria, Iraq and in surrounding countries.

The objective of this meeting, in line with the efforts that have been undertaken in the past three years, is to assess the work that has been accomplished thus far by Catholic charitable organizations in the context of the crisis, sharing information on the evolution of the crisis itself and the responses on the part of the Church to the humanitarian situation; to discuss critical issues which have emerged and to identify priorities for the future; to analyze the situation facing Christian communities resident in those countries which have suffered the effects of war and to promote synergy between various ecclesial organizations, the religious congregations and the dioceses; and to analyze the activity of Humanitarian Focal Point, set up last year by Catholic charities agencies sponsored by Cor Unum.

The Syrian and Iraqi crisis is the focus of attention for the international community due to the gravity which has come about as a result of the war.  The Holy See, in addition to diplomatic activity, is participating actively in various humanitarian assistance programs.  Since 2011, according to the data that is currently available, the crisis has claimed more than 250,000 victims and left 1 million people wounded.  Currently, there are more than 12 million people in need of help in Syria and another 8 million in Iraq; there are 7.6 million refugees in Syria and more than 3 million in Iraq, while another 4 million Syrians are located in various other places throughout the Middle East: including 1.9 million in Turkey, 1.1 million in Lebanon and more than 600,000 in Jordan.