1. Middle East – EMERGENCY appeal
© Andrew McConnell for CRS

2. Background
The Middle East is gripped by a number of crises, affecting millions of innocent people in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
Background
At present there are are a number of crises that have gripped the Middle East. The current conflict in Syria has resulted in millions of refugees flooding into Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey and millions of internally displaced families within Syria. The United Nations has described the situation as the largest humanitarian crisis in recent years. The complex historical and political context within the region has resulted in increased uncertainty for millions. This is demonstrated in the recent events in Iraq where militants have taken over wide areas of Syria and Iraq resulting in large numbers of Iraqi refugees, the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine and political uncertainty in Egypt.
In recognition of the escalating conflicts within the region that appear far from being resolved, Caritas Australia has made a decision to open a Middle East Crisis Appeal. This will give the organisation the flexibility to respond quickly to requests for assistance from the Caritas network within the region. This appeal may also be directed to respond to other needs in the region should the situation change due to an escalation in conflict or natural disasters.

3. Focus - syria
“[This is] the largest humanitarian crisis in recent years.” - United Nations
The current conflict in Syria has resulted in 1.7 million refugees flooding into Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, as well as 7.6 million internally displaced people (IDPs) within Syria.
The UN’s World Food Program has suspended food aid to the 1.7 million Syrian refugees, due to a lack of funding from governments around the world, and is concerned it may have to suspend food aid to the 7.6 million IDPs in the New Year also.
The uprising in Syria began in March 2011 between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and their opposition. There have been thousands of civilian casualties; hence Syrians are fleeing for safety to the bordering countries which include Jordan and Lebanon. Recent United Nations estimates indicate that more than 9 million people, approximately 40% of Syria’s pre-war population, have been displaced either within Syria’s borders or to neighboring countries.
Both Jordan and Lebanon have seen unprecedented numbers of refugees and their social services are overwhelmed. It is reported that a third of Lebanon’s population are now Syrian refugees fleeing from the violence placing additional pressures on host communities and national infrastructure. Many refugees arriving from Syria and now Iraq are injured, psychologically scarred and with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. While some live in refugee camps many survive outside refugee camps in urban settings; their needs are often not met through traditional channels and they have no legal opportunities for livelihoods. Therefore NGOs such as our Caritas partners, play a crucial role in supporting those refugees who cannot access services elsewhere.
A Syrian refugee carries supplies to help his family endure the winter in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon © Caritas Switzerland

4. Focus - iraq
In northern and central Iraq, more than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes as religious extremists, calling themselves the Islamic State, have targeted people of minority faiths such as Christians, Yazidis and Shia Muslims. Families have fled without their possessions or the basic necessities to survive.
“They are desperate and frustrated. They lack hope that the world will move fast enough to end this humanitarian tragedy.” - Nabil Nissan, Executive Director of Caritas Iraq

5. Focus - gaza
In Gaza, escalations of violence in June 2014 between Israel and the Palestinian territories have resulted in large numbers of displaced and injured people.
Photo description: The courtyard of the Saint Porphyrios Church is crowded with refugees. Everyday, more people arrive as shelling continues in some areas of Gaza.
© Virginie NGUYEN HOANG/hanslucas.com - Secours Catholique/Caritas France

6. “We share a desire for peace and stability in the Middle East, and the will to promote the resolution of conflicts through dialogue, reconciliation and political commitment.” - Pope Francis
Photo description: Pope Francis touches the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank (May 2014)

7. How caritas is helping
Caritas Australia is working with church based partners across the region to identify a coordinated response and deliver emergency aid to best help thousands of families affected by the violence.  
These responses have included:
Food assistance
Healthcare, including GP clinics, surgery and mental health support 
Educational and social services
Water, sanitation and hygiene kits
Shelter and household items such as blankets, clothing, heaters and bedding materials
Caritas Australia’s Middle East Crisis Appeal enables us to respond quickly through the international Caritas network and partners to help people who have been forced to flee for their safety, who have lost loved ones, and who will bear the scars of conflict long after it is over.
© Andrew McConnell for CRS

8. What can I do?

9. “This unjust situation requires, aside from our constant prayer, an adequate response on the part of the international community.”
- Pope Francis
Fared Abu Jamea Mob's family home was destroyed in the Gaza-Israel conflict that originated in mid-May 2014 and then escalated on July 8th, Photo by Shareef Sarhan for Catholic Relief Services.

10. We are called to stand in solidarity
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Representatives of the Middle Eastern Apostolic Churches in Australia and New Zealand are seeking the support of Australian Catholics, to stand in solidarity to help alleviate the suffering of Christians, especially the many Iraqi refugees.
The Vatican has requested that all humanitarian aid in the Middle East continue, and that all other Christian communities remain in solidarity with those in the region during this trying time.
Considering the widespread significance of the crisis, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference are inviting all Catholic communities to ask for the mercy of God for our persecuted brothers and sisters in the Middle East.   President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart said, “We hear the plea of our brother bishops from the Eastern Churches and we join them in expressing our grave concerns about the suffering of the Christian communities, that trace their roots back to apostolic times, and the danger of their gradual disappearance from their ancient homelands”.
Archbishop Kassab said, “All the Christians of Iraq desperately need our prayers and support. These, our wounded brothers and sisters, were brutally forced to leave their hometowns and all their belongings in order to remain faithful to Jesus Christ”.

11. Donate www.caritas.org.au/syria
Donate to the Caritas Australia Middle East Crisis Appeal to help the many families who have fled conflict, those who are internally displaced, and vulnerable host communities who are overwhelmed by the increasing numbers of refugees.
Jordanians living in poverty receive aid vouchers © Andrew McConnell for CRS

12. What your donations can do
$15 could provide a blanket for one person in Gaza
$50 could buy a life-saving food kit for a conflict affected family in Lebanon
$100 could help 20 children affected by the Syria crisis with psychosocial support
$170 could provide blankets, a jerry can, bucket and kitchen set for one family in Iraq
Where will the money from the Middle East Emergency Appeal go? Will it go towards individual countries or programs?
Caritas Australia is working with multiple partners within the Caritas network who are delivering country specific and regional programs. As a result much of the funding will support multi-country programs across the region; it would be challenging to allocate donations specifically to individual countries therefore a Middle East Appeal has been created.
We have previously supported emergency relief and recovery activities in Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Egypt and are currently supporting activites in Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq. Caritas Australia will respond to community needs and partner requests as they emerge. We are currently hearing reports that Cyprus are receiving Syrian refugees and anticipate a significant number of Iraqi refugees arriving in neighbouring countries.
The Caritas network distributing essential non-food items in Gaza City. © Shareef Sarhan for Catholic Relief Services

13. pray
Pope Francis has appealed to all to persevere in praying for peace in all situations of tension and conflict in the world, and especially the Middle East.
Photo description: Pope Francis prays as he holds an envelope before placing it in on of the cracks between the stones of the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, in the old city of Jerusalem, Israel (May 2014).
© Caritas Internationalis

14. Prayer for peace in the middle east
May the God of peace arouse in all
an authentic desire for dialogue and reconciliation,  
and a genuine belief that violence cannot be overcome with violence,
but only overcome with peace!
May the God of hope
grant the peoples and leaders in the Middle East
the wisdom and strength to pursue the path of peace with determination
and to face each dispute with the tenacity of dialogue and negotiation,
and the power of reconciliation.
May every decision not be based on particular interests,
but on the common good and on respect for each person.
God of love and compassion, we know that all is lost with conflict and nothing is lost with peace.
Help us all to grow in patience and in mercy.
Amen.
Words inspired by Pope Francis’ prayers for the Middle East

15. To whom can you show love, compassion, patience and mercy today?
act
Pope Francis challenges us to never stop looking for opportunities of encounter with those who are different from us, and with those who are on the margins.
To whom can you show love, compassion, patience and mercy today?

16. By donating to this appeal, you will support a broad range of programs run in partnership through the Caritas Internationalis network and partners, operating in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
Your generous support will help us respond quickly with our partners on the ground, particularly in situations where there is a spike or escalation in ongoing conflicts resulting in significant and urgent humanitarian need for those who need it most.