Aid to the Church in Need has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Syria, where hundreds of civilians have fallen victim to indiscriminate attacks.
The situation has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, also for Christian communities, who have already suffered greatly over the past decade.
According to sources close to the charity in Latakia, the country’s principal port city, last Friday was described as “a very black and painful day” in the cities of Tartus, Banias, Jabla, and Latakia, and the surrounding villages. ACN prefers to keep anonymous for security reasons. The source reported: “Massacres against many Alawites, often indiscriminately, in response to an ambush by some Alawite militants that killed about 20 members of the new security forces.
“The number of victims is very sad; the majority were civilians, more than 600, who lost their lives, including young people, women, university doctors, and pharmacists. Some families with their children were killed in cold blood.”
Among the deceased were also members of Christian communities, such as “a father and son from an evangelical church in Latakia, who were stopped in their car and killed, as well as the father of a priest in Banias”.
Furthermore, reports indicate that homes and vehicles were looted, affecting all but also Christians, forcing some families to take refuge in the homes of Sunni friends.
In the Christian village of Belma, “where there are no weapons and most of the residents are elderly, the population endured two days of terror, with the sanctity of homes violated and property stolen”.
In light of this tragedy, Regina Lynch, executive president of Aid to the Church in Need, has issued a call to prayer:
“May Our Lady of Syria protect the people in this country, that has endured too many wounds over the past decade. Now, more than ever, we must pray for its healing and future. May faith keep us united and may hope in Christ illuminate this suffering nation.”
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Aid to the Church in Need calls for intense prayer for Syria amid violence and uncertainty (Aid to the Church in Need)
