H.E. Senator Nasser J. Judeh, Former Minister of Jordan Foreign Affairs: The Kingdom is still providing a safe shelter

Secretary General Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria: We condemn the economic sanctions imposed on countries such as Syria

The Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum held its first annual meeting following the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, on Sunday 23 October 2022, in Amman. Attendees were 27 participants from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, representing local, regional and international organizations members of ACT Alliance. Noting that ACT includes more than 144 members from Evangelical and Orthodox humanitarian and development organizations worldwide, as well as the Middle East Council of Churches, which was the coordinator for the Administrative Committee of the Middle East and North Africa Forum for this year.

The first session began with a meditation from the Orthodox Church, followed by an introduction of the participants. Then the session started its activities with a speech delivered by Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, the Secretary General of Act Alliance, via Zoom, during which he greeted the participants and stressed the importance of establishing the regional and local forums which contribute to the development of joint visions between all the organizations working in the humanitarian field in the region. Mr. Faria tackled the role of ACT in defending the vulnerable people’s rights through the various advocacy programs it implements. He also condemned the humanitarian tragedies occurring in the world and the repercussions of the economic sanctions imposed on countries which are witnessing successive crises, such as Syria, which have negative impacts on the humanitarian situation and on those who are directly affected by the repercussions of wars and other crises.

Afterwards, Mr. Paul Handley, Director of the United Nations Regional Office for the Syria Crisis, living in Jordan, highlighted the impact of climate change on the displacement and migration from many regions which are facing drought or environmental change as a result of armed conflicts and the use of water resources for wars. He also talked about the repercussions of these situations and its impact on the resilience of the affected groups who depend on agricultural livelihoods. As well as, Mr. Handley stressed that the Syrian crisis, which is on its 12th twelfth year, is still considered today one of the largest crises in the world, especially that it directly led to an increase in extreme poverty in most age groups. Hence, he mentioned that the Syrian crisis became today absent from the international concerns compared to the crisis of the Ukrainian-Russian war.

Then Mrs. Wafa Goussous, member of the Middle East Council of Churches Executive Committee and Director of the MECC Jordan office, introduced H.E. Senator Nasser J. Judeh, Former Minister of Jordan Foreign Affairs, and greeted him as a keynote speaker at the meeting. In his turn, Judeh tackled the repercussions of the world's economic and political crises on the Middle East, and mentioned that the crises affecting the East cannot be resolved with an isolation from international crises. He added that all areas in the world are interacting with each other and are affected by what is happening all around, especially in the world of digital communications.

Senator Judeh also discussed the Jordan's role in receiving refugees and displaced persons, as today it includes the largest percentage of displaced persons in its territory compared to the number of its population. Despite this situation, the Kingdom of Jordan is still providing a safe shelter for many nationalities living on its land, at a time Jordan is suffering from water and resources shortage amidst the increasing of challenges, especially in health services... Judeh emphasized the pioneering role played by Christian humanitarian organizations and other parties in order to alleviate the affected people burdens. On the international level, he highlighted His Majesty King Abdullah II's recent speech at the United Nations on Jordan's role in maintaining the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the Kingdom's role in preserving Christian and Islamic relations.

The following sessions included an introduction to the activities implemented by the organizations participating in the meeting, in all the regions in which they work. At the end, the Middle East Council of Churches offered the icon of the Virgin Mary as a souvenir to Senator Nasser J. Judeh.

The first day’s activities ended with an Ecumenical meeting hosted and blessed by His Eminence Bishop Christophoros Atallah, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jordan, at the Archdiocese. Attendees were priests from the Archdiocese, alongside the Pastor of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Pastor of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Jordan.

His Eminence welcomed the participants and presented an overview about the coexistence lived in Jordan by all the societal components under the auspices of the Kingdom and amidst the Ecumenical spirit uniting the Churches together. He also emphasized the Church's service today in the society through the various educational and spiritual Ecclesiastical institutions.

Then, the activities of the Act Alliance Forum meeting were highlighted, as well as an introduction of the participants and the organizations they represent was presented. At the end, the Archdiocese offered a souvenir gift which is constituted of an olive tree mosaic, as a token of love and appreciation for all the participants.