At the Salesian centre in El Houssoun, they continue to take care of the displaced. "Above all, it is women and children who are housed in our facilities," the Salesians add. “And they'll probably stay with us at least until Christmas. The situation in Lebanon worsens day by day. A few weeks ago a village was bombed less than a kilometre from our mission in El Houssoun", they say.
But the conflict in Lebanon also affects Syria. "In Lebanon there are many refugees from Syria. Today they are returning to their country, but they have nothing. The basic necessities that are bought in Syria all come from Lebanon, therefore, life in Syria becomes more difficult every day, " the Salesians say.
"We cannot leave all these people who suffer from violence in the Middle East on their own. We must create safe spaces for them, especially for children, we must continue to offer them support and assistance in everything they need, prepare for the arrival of winter and, above all, maintain access to education so as not to lose another generation, "says Fr Alejandro León, a Venezuelan Salesian, missionary in the Salesian Province of the Middle East, who on 5 November 2024, will speak about the latest that is happening in Lebanon and in the rest of the region in a press conference organised by Misiones Salesianas, the Salesian Mission Office based in Madrid (Calle Ferraz, 81 – beginning at 11 – UTC+1).
The war in Lebanon has already left more than 1.4 million displaced, more than 2,000 dead and more than 12,000 wounded as a result of the bombing, and the prospects for the future in the Middle East region are not good. The Salesians warn that there are still many needs and the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid recalls that the Middle East Emergency campaign is still open to support the most vulnerable populations in the area.
The Salesians have been in the Middle East since 1926. In Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, the Salesians take care of thousands of children and young people, through schools and vocational training centres that offer future opportunities. There are also numerous initiatives and projects to welcome and support refugees and displaced persons, as well as numerous vulnerable people, in a region that has been suffering from armed conflicts for years.
For more information, visit: www.missionidonbosco.org
