Following the Beirut Explosion: MECC’s Friends Send Their Condolences, Confirming Their Unwavering Support, Thank you!

Beirut, August 7, 2020

After the catastrophic explosion that hit the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on August 4, 2020, causing massive destruction and devastating this city that has always been full of life, the Middle East Council of Churches’ regional offices in Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, in addition to several international organizations, expressed their sympathy and solidarity with the Lebanese people through letters of condolence addressed to the General Secretariat of the council at its headquarters in Beirut.

This disaster, which shocked the whole world, killed at least 140 and wounded more than 5,000 people. Moreover, dozens of people are still missing, and a big number of Beirut’s residents, which amounts to about 300 thousand people, have completely lost their homes and no longer have a safe shelter.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), Religions for Peace (RfP), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Ecumenical Commission for Human Development (ECHD), Pro Oriente, the Evangelical Middle East Commission (EMOK), the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Church of Scotland, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), and the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) are among the council’s partners that have sent solidarity messages.

The council’s friends and partners have all rushed to offer their condolences to the member churches, especially to “afflicted Lebanese families and to all those who lost loved ones”. They wanted to confirm their constant support to MECC team in Beirut, dedicating their prayers to this city that “has a central place in their hearts” and calling on the intercession of the Mother of God “Our Lady Harissa”.

There is no doubt that adversity draws people together and demonstrates the close ties established between the Middle East Council of Churches and its partners from all over the world. Were it not for the mutual support and cooperation that unite these organizations through prayer and faith, the Council would have not been able to overcome such obstacles and disasters in order to continue spreading its ecumenical mission in the wounded Middle East region.

Communication and Public Relations Department