July 30, 2012. (Romereports.com) The now year long conflict in Syria has resulted in an estimated 17,000 people killed and 120,000 refugees. Those who flee, mostly go to Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan.
The Catholic aid organization Caritas Internationalis is one of the largest non-governmental organizations helping these people by providing food, shelter, and medicine.
The Secretary General Michel Roy says the situation of Syria is being made worse by arms being brought in from the outside.
Michel Roy
Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis
“Right now we are in full war, and this war is fueled mainly by arms being brought to the rebels and the oppositions from outside, and this is not the way to bring peace to that country.”
There has also been the worry that the spreading violence could cause the pope to cancel his trip to Lebanon in September. It's expected to be a landmark trip for the different Churches in the region as well as the Church's relation with the Arab world.
Michel Roy
Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis
“If the war develops, which is the case right now and I don't think it will stop very easily, there is already war in the northern part of Lebanon where the Sunni and Alawi people live. The border between Syria and Lebanon on the Mediterranean is a border between people of the same tribes.”
There are also many Iraqi refugees living in Syria that are now returning home after facing a new wave of violence.
Michel Roy
Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis
“Over the past years, Caritas Syria has been very active with Iraqi refugees coming from Iraq and staying in Syria or going to the West. FLASH 03,15 A new team has been put in place with emergency response programs from January onwards.”
The situation still carries many question marks for Syrians and their neighbors. In the mean time Caritas Internationalis continues to offer help to the thousands of refugees that continue to flee.
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