The Middle East Council of Churches is here to help affected small businesses get back on their feet

Ten months after the Beirut port explosion, Lebanese people are still suffering from its catastrophic repercussions that turned their lives upside down during a mixture of crises, especially the economic crisis burdening them. Their wounds have not healed yet and their needs are still dire at many levels.

The August 4 disaster did not leave one sector untouched, destruction affected small companies in Beirut whose owners are barely making ends meet.

"I rely on many assistances that allow me to eat and live, then I go back to the stairs on the next street to spend the night." Alas, this is the case of a women affected by the massive crises that hit Lebanon. She lives without a shelter to protect her and the Beirut explosion came to severely deepen her wound. Likewise, many Beirutis are passing through difficult living conditions and are affected by the August 4 disaster and by different crises.

Developing Cooperation and Working Together for the Service of Humanity

On Friday May 7, 2021, a delegation from the international humanitarian organization Tearfund visited the MECC headquarters in Beirut. The delegation included the Regional Director Mrs. Karen Sorensen, new Country Director for Lebanon Mr. Dani Tayyar, new Program Officer for Lebanon and Yemen Mr. Farah Bou Kher and new Person in Charge of supporting the Country Director in peace building initiatives and supporting fragile states Mrs. Manal Tayyar.

Amid the deteriorating living conditions and outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in Lebanon, the citizens’ needs are daily increasing. Therefore, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its humanitarian relief role by supporting the most vulnerable and needy groups through distributing a new batch of aid.

Bringing life back to St. Mesrob Church and Ishakian School

Upholding Human dignity cannot be achieved in words but in deeds

We share together God’s resources

Amidst the deteriorating living conditions in the East, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launches its new appeal in order to maintain the humanitarian and residency needs to directly affected Syrian and Iraqi refugees as well as host communities in Jordan.

MECC General Secretariat held its annual meeting today on 14th April 2021 with international and regional partner organizations and institutions on Zoom to discuss different opinions and share knowledge in order to develop the role of the council and improve work mechanism and cooperation in future projects.

In the framework of its efforts to support students to continue their education, MECC implemented remedial classes for 9th grade students in Aleppo and Rural Damascus Governorates.

The classes addressed all necessary information in the curriculum in order to improve the academic level of students to enable them pass the 9th grade official exams successfully.

As a follow-up to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq, Middle East Council of Churches President on behalf of the Catholic family and Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako met with MECC General Secretary Dr. Michel Abs, Assistant Secretary General Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros and departments directors.

The Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat issued its annual report for the year 2020, a year in review burdened by challenges and obstacles in the world in general, and the Middle East in particular. The East witnessed a never-ending cycle of crises for decades now.

The deadly outbreak of the Coronavirus has had many negative repercussions on people’s mental health, especially women and children, who are considered to be the most vulnerable. The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office, organized many psychological and social support sessions allowing participants to restore their normal life activities.

MECC provided awarenes for COVID-19 to families in Deir Al Bakeht, Dara’a Governorate, through visiting 2047 families in their homes.

The families were introduced to disease transmission methods and infection symptoms and were given tips on how to strengthen their immune system.

8 months following the catastrophic Beirut Port Blast, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its response to the urgent necessities and losses resulting from it and its tremendous repercussions, through supporting the affected people, especially amid the deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Amid dire living conditions in Lebanon, Our Lady Dispensary Team, affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches and located in Sabtiyeh - Lebanon, supported the neediest people by providing medical services, the prices of which have dramatically increased with the deterioration of the economic situation in the country.

Ten years have passed since the outbreak of the war in Syria. This war has left behind a worsening humanitarian crisis and is classified as the largest since World War II.

Ten years have passed, leaving behind the largest refugee crisis in the world with 5.6 million Syrians displaced to neighboring countries, 6.7 million others forced to leave their homes and relocate and large numbers of martyrs and permanently wounded citizens.

Within the Livestock and Poultry Program, MECC team continues to support poor and affected families to help them overcome difficult living conditions and empower them to participate in the economic life.

The MECC Team distributed 30 laying hens to 111 families in Al-Sanamayn and 89 families in Ghabagheb in rural Dara’a, providing coops, fodder mixture kits, vaccines, vitamins, and veterinary services to vulnerable households.

Believing in the important role of teachers in building and raising generations, MECC organized a training course for teachers addressing basic principles of child protection. 30 teachers and directors from different educational centers participated in the training.

7 months following the Beirut Port Blast and the Middle East Council of Churches is keen to continue its mission in serving the human dignity by supporting the affected and needy people who are still facing the enormous repercussions of the explosion.