Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) hosted a virtual forum with two of its regional directors in the Middle East, and a live audience at the New York Catholic Center on Monday, November 4.

The event was intended to bring interested parties up to date on the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, as the war between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah continues and the need for humanitarian response rises.

Monsignor Peter Vaccari, president of CNEWA, and Michael LaCivita, CNEWA’s director of communications, hosted the event. They were joined via Zoom by Michel Constantin, regional director for Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, and Joseph Hazboun, the regional director for CNEWA-Pontifical Mission’s Jerusalem office.

“There is the new campaign in southern Lebanon. Fighting has moved into Arab neighborhoods and Christian neighborhoods. We hear sirens almost all day long. We hear rockets and Iron Dome response all day long. It is terrible,” Hazboun said. However, he added, “No churches or parishes have been attacked or damaged, thanks be to God.”

However, Christians have suffered in the West Bank throughout the latest conflict, which began in October 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel. “The only Christian hospital in Gaza was bombed, leaving 400 dead,” he said, referring to the siege of the Al-Shifa Hospital, which ended in April. “This war is really something that we’ve never seen anything like.”

Michel Constantin presented the situation in Lebanon in contrast to the West Bank. “In Lebanon we do not have any Iron Dome and the level of violence is not to be compared with the level in the West Bank. In southern Lebanon we estimate that 25 percent of buildings have been destroyed completely at the ground level,” he said. The Israel Defense Forces began a ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in October. “Almost 90 percent of the people of the south, they have left. They are displaced,” Constantin said.

Distribution of aid

Hazboun described the difficulties of distributing aid in a war zone, and the need in each area. “We provide food supplies, medicine, especially for elderly people with chronic diseases, along with potable water. This was easier until two months ago. We could provide hot meals and food packages. But almost two months ago, Israel imposed stricter on aid convoys,” he said. “Prices are skyrocketing. What we used to get for one shekel is now 10.”

The regional director also said they are preparing to launch a campaign where CNEWA will provide food packages and psycho-social programs especially for children, as colder weather approaches.

“I am begging you for your help, to help Christians in their homeland. This will have a severe and hard ramifications on the very few that are remaining in the Holy Land,” he said.

The two men answered questions from audience members, both in person and online. About 50 people attended the event.

When asked about the current level of support for the situation in Lebanon, Constantin said, “The partnerships continue, but the funding is decreasing. We able to raise more than double for Aleppo [in Syria] than what has been raised for Lebanon. Catholic Relief Services, WorldVision, and the Aid to Church in Need are all still operating. The needs are in constant increase every day. We cannot see the next day or the future of the war.”

Monsignor Vaccari closed the event by offering recommendations to the attendees about how they can assist. While donations to CNEWA are welcome, the monsignor emphasized other suggestions.

“Share the message,” he said. “The most thing that we ask for is prayer. There is nothing more important than prayer.” He also recommended that people read current encyclical of Pope Francis on the Sacred Heart, and its message of mission and unification.

Amanda Bowman, who began her term of service on CNEWA’s board of trustees on November 7 called attention to the upcoming CNEWA annual gala, with the theme “Hope and Healing,” to be held December 9, and will honor Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, attended the event, as did Father Mark Knestout, attaché of the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, along with members of the CNEWA staff.

CNEWA was founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as an instrument of love and a sign of hope for those in need scattered throughout the historic but unstable lands of the ancient Eastern churches — the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe.