Under the framework of securing the basic needs of the migrant and affected families in Syria, the MECC team distributed 730 food rations and 1645 hygiene kit to 2375 vulnerable families in Jaramana city, Rural Damascus.

A month after the catastrophic blast that hit the Beirut port, the Diakonia Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its disaster relief work on the field, within the framework of the appeal launched by the Council to help all those affected and injured. Therefore, the department launched a new partnership with Tearfund, a relief and humanitarian agency located in London, to target the most vulnerable people among those affected by the blast, with unrestricted cash assistance.

Within the framework of the MECC appeal to provide relief for the devastated Beirut and its afflicted people, because of the 4 August blast, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria hastened to respond to the appeal by offering a shipment of aid included 26 tons of food products, medicines and medical supplies. Following up the process of distributing it to beneficiaries, the MECC Diakonia Department’s team and a group of youth volunteers sorted the offered products and medical supplies, divided and packed them.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "AL Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

MECC organized a crochet training for 19 women aged between 18 to 45 from Rural Damascus. The trainees learned the basic principles of crocheting and the way to use one needle to crochet squares and gather them to form different shapes, such as: table covers, bed covers, blankets, shawls and other cloths or crafts that can be knitted with crochet.

“O God, who will roll away the stone from the hearts of wounded Beirut and its affected citizens”

On August 4, at around 6:00pm, a warehouse at the Beirut Port containing large quantities of ammonium nitrate exploded. After an initial explosion, a subsequent blast caused widespread damage, with reports of damage more than 20 km from the port area. Hundreds of buildings including grain silos storing around 85 percent of the country’s grain, and numerous residential places have also been damaged or completely destroyed.

In its endeavor to support those most in need, MECC provided a variety of kits to the students of three schools in Jairoud, Muadamiyat al-Qalamoun and Al Bayad in Rural Damascus after completing the rehabilitation of the WASH facilities in those schools which will ensure a healthy and safe environment for students. The distribution included hygiene kits, winter clothing and shoes in addition to school bags and stationery. It was organized in the schools while respecting all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The "Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria" has been launched!

Despite the global suffering and the imminent danger caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the virus did not hinder the work of the Steering Committee of the "Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria". In fact, the committee held an online meeting that gathered the representatives of the participating churches, representatives of Kerk in Actie (KiA) – Netherlands, which is the donor of the program, and senior officials from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Amid the economic, social and health crises, that have been exacerbated by the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the team of Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), which is affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 150 deprived Lebanese families including elderly members. The team distributed vouchers amounting to 150,000 Lebanese Liras each.

was launched on the practical level despite the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Steering Committee of the "Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of faith-based social services & religious infrastructure damaged during the crisis in Syria" held an online meeting that gathered the representatives of the participating churches, representatives of Kerk in Actie (KiA) – Netherlands, which is the donor of the program, and senior officials from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The team of Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), which is affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 400 deprived Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi families protect themselves against COVID-19.

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Through their ongoing activities, the Diakonia department and the Department for the Service of Palestinian refugees (DSPR) continue to serve the weak and the poor, especially during this exceptional period resulting from the widespread outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its economic and social repercussions on the Middle East.

MECC rehabilitated WASH facilities in three schools in Rural Damascus in addition to a school in Aleppo in order to improve the hygienic conditions at those establishments. 2462 students and school staff benefited from this rehabilitation.

Amid the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the team of Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), which is affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, helped 400 deprived Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi families protect themselves against COVID-19. The team distributed hygiene kits to those families in addition to flyers including visual guidance to raise awareness about prevention methods.

Pursuing its goal to serve society by supporting the novel Coronavirus prevention measures, MECC manufactured 5000 face masks that meet international standards.

MECC supported workers in the dairy industry – cattle raising and dairy production, processing and retail - in nine different areas in Dara’a Governorate. The livestock project targeted 460 families. MECC distributed 2 tons of fortified fodder and 20 liter-stainless steel milk containers to 400 breeders who own 900 cows.

MECC distributed barley seeds to 600 farmers in Dara’a Governorate in order to support the agricultural sector. The distributed seeds are sufficient to plant 1.5 hectares per beneficiary. In addition, MECC covered the costs of land cultivation and seed sowing.

A new experience discovering the financial and investment strategies of Churches and their institutions

At the invitation of the World Council of Churches, Agape and Churchinvest foundations to the international conference entitled “Impactful cooperation” which took place in Geneva/ Switzerland on 17-18 January 2020 in the premises of WCC, the Middle East Council of Churches participated in the event and was represented by Mr. Samer Laham, director of the Diakonia Department and Ecumenical Relief Services.

MECC Diakonia department has helped 1735 families to overcome the extreme cold, which is one of the biggest challenges during the severe winter. Therefore, these returnee families in many villages of Daraa Rural, have received winter clothes kits and coats.

MECC team distributed in kind kits to displaced and affected families by the Syrian crisis in a number of villages in Rural Damascus, Rural Hama and Rural Homs.

1008 families, including female-headed households, adults and 21 children with special needs and disabilities, benefited from these Individual and family hygiene kits in addition to blankets and school kits.