Middle East & North Africa Archives

A Woman Responsible for Psychosocial Support Programmes

5/03/2024 Iraq, Middle East & North Africa, Women by daniele piccini

I have been working in Caritas Iraq since mid-2015 as a presenter of psychosocial support lectures within the women’s empowerment programmes which were held at Caritas Iraq – Duhok office. After the approval of a new psychosocial support programme in 2017, we received training and I became responsible for the implementation of the programme in ...

Four Months of Conflict in the Holy Land : Caritas Faces Humanitarian Challenges

7/02/2024 Advocacy, Jerusalem, Middle East & North Africa by daniele piccini

It has been almost four months since the latest round of conflict in the Holy Land began on 7 October 2023, resulting in unprecedented levels of destruction and suffering. As a result, the humanitarian crisis within the region continues to deepen. Caritas Internationalis stands at the forefront of the humanitarian response, reiterating its call for ...

One Year after the Earthquake in Syria. Caritas was the First Light of Hope after the Disaster

5/02/2024 Earthquake, Earthquake Syria Turkey 2023, Emergencies in Syria, Syria, Turkey by daniele piccini

Yasmine Halalish lives in Aleppo with her husband, Fathi Moustafa, as the stepmother of three children: Raneem, who needs special health care, Tasneem and Mouhammad Moustafa. Their birth mother died. Please tell me about the time after the earthquake. Did you receive any aid? «We did receive aid from Caritas Syria: canned food, hygiene kits ...

Holy Land: Caritas Internationalis joins today’s Global Day of Action calling for a Ceasefire Now

22/12/2023 Emergencies in the Palestine, Jerusalem, Press Release by daniele piccini

Caritas Internationalis joins the Global Day of Action organised today, 18 December, in support of #CeasefireNow, the open call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and further loss of innocent lives. Caritas Internationalis and several of the Confederation’s 162 national Caritas have joined the initiative, including Caritas MONA (Middle East and North Africa) and ...

Caritas staff in Gaza determined to go out and serve others

6/12/2023 Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Jerusalem, Middle East & North Africa by Maria Kristina Millare

For the seven days of pause in hostilities since November 24th, 2023, our dedicated Caritas Jerusalem team, led by our medical consultant Dr Jihad Al Hisi, provided primary health care to the most vulnerable communities in southern Gaza. Across the Gaza Strip, the Israeli bombing has destroyed more than 46,000 homes and otherwise damaged over ...

War in Syria. A story told in Caritas Anatolia Listening Centres

4/12/2023 Syria, Turkey by daniele piccini

We could finally afford to live in the house of our dreams. It was outside the centre of Homs, the family home, big and spacious. After years of hard work as a teacher, my husband had saved enough money to renovate it. I was happy, finally our children would have enough space to grow up happy. ...

Caritas Internationalis secretary general visits the Holy Land

24/11/2023 Conflicts and Disasters, Jerusalem, Middle East & North Africa by Francesca Frezza

Following his recent visit to the Holy Land to support local Caritas Jerusalem staff and volunteers, Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis said, “It was intense and emotional. Caritas staff described their pain, frustration and powerlessness that they are not able to reach their colleagues or help the communities in Gaza. They have set ...

Caritas Internationalis urges cease fire in the Holy Land: “Now is the time for peace”

10/11/2023 Advocacy, Conflicts and Disasters, Jerusalem, Middle East & North Africa by Francesca Frezza

A month after Hamas’ attack on Israel, the latter’s reaction, and the war that has ensued since, Caritas Internationalis urges both parties to cease fire, protect people, guarantee humanitarian access, abide by international law, and release all the hostages. “Through our common humanity, all human life is equally sacred, and none can be written off ...

Caritas Jerusalem – Life in Gaza Under the Shadow of Conflict

27/10/2023 Blog, Emergencies in the Palestine, Jerusalem by daniele piccini

Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, Gaza has lost at least 3,800 people, with 12,900 more injured. Numerous residents have been forced to seek refuge in hospitals, UNRWA facilities, and churches. The shortage of electricity, water, and food supplies, especially for hospitals, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. “Do you know what I ...

Caritas mourns colleague’s death in an attack in Gaza

20/10/2023 Jerusalem, Middle East & North Africa by Claudia Lombardi

Statement of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas MONA. This morning we were devastated to learn of the death of our colleague Viola, 26-Year-old, who was killed alongside her husband and their infant daughter in an airstrike attack on the St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza. May they rest in peace. The Church provided refuge for around ...