Let us, on this International Day, pray that the parties cease provocations and create an environment conducive to meaningful negotiations.
Caritas Internationalis conference 15-17 September in Rome on Middle East commits to working more on advocacy, peacebuilding and community resilence.
Caritas Internationalis president on how the crises in Gaza, Syria, Iraq and the persecution of Christian and other minorities in the Middle East are the greatest emergency the world has faced since the end of the Second World War.
Caritas has helped almost 1 million people affected by the crises in Syria, Gaza and Iraq, but with turmoil deepening, needs are growing while resources shrink.
Caritas staff in Gaza had been able to take advantage of a now dead ceasefire to deliver essential aid to the worst-hit areas. Now the fighting has resumed, it’s preventing Caritas reaching all those in need.
Caritas staff continue to provide aid and medical care to the people of Gaza. One of them talks about his daily life.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza continues, with civilian casualties, destruction of buildings, damage to infrastructure and internal displacement continuing to rise. During a short ceasefire, CRS reached families whose homes had been totally destroyed.
I saw many injured people at the hospital. Their faces were full of fear and sadness. It is hard to describe the desolation that people feel in Gaza.
Jalila Ayyad, the first Christian casualty in the conflict in Gaza, died in her home yesterday when a shell hit. One of her sons, Jeries, is in hospital with serious wounds. Caritas Jerusalem is trying to evacuate him out of Gaza to East Jerusalem.