Here:
Over 12 thousand faithful Greek-Catholics are
trapped in the village of Rableh, west of Qusayr, in the area of Homs. Food is
scarce, the faithful are living on "bread and water", medicine is
lacking to treat the sick and wounded. This is the alarm raised by local
sources of Fides that invoke respect for humanitarian law, that confirm what
the international press is reporting on the situation in Rableh. For more than
ten days the village of Rableh is subject to a strict blockade by armed
opposition groups, which surround it on all sides.
One of the leaders of a local parish, B.K., who
requested anonymity for security reasons, told Fides that a few days ago three
young men of the village were killed by snipers: George Azar 20 years old,
another 21 years old, Elias Tahch Semaan, 35 years old, married and father of
four children. Some representatives of the popular initiative for
reconciliation "Mussalaha" were able to carry a small load of
humanitarian aid to the village. A representative of "Mussalaha"
assured the faithful by claiming that "everything will be done to allow
the delivery of humanitarian aid."
An appeal was launched by His Beatitude Patriarch
Gregorios III Laham, visibly moved, to all men of good will so that
"Rableh is saved and all other villages affected in Syria, and finally for
peace to be reached in our beloved country." Even the Apostolic Nuncio in
Syria, His Exc. Mgr. Mario Zenari, called on all parties involved "to the
strict observance of the international humanitarian law", pointing out
that the resolution of the crisis in Syria depends first of all on its
citizens.
Fides Agency has learned, too, that the
Greek-Catholic monastery of St. James the Mutilated in Qara, which currently
houses a community of 25 people from nine countries and twenty refugees, in
recent days was hit by the bombing of a helicopter which intended to hit some
rebel groups. No victim, but different parts of the monastery, dating from the
sixth century, were damaged. The Superior of the monastery, Mother Agnès-Mariam
de la Croix raised her voice to that of the local hierarchy, demanding an end
to violence and "to adopt the logic of dialogue and reconciliation."
Local Christian leaders ask the warring parties to spare the areas where
civilians live and to safeguard the cultural and religious heritage of the
country.
As Oliver
McCarthy, who sent me this, puts it on his Facebook page:
The
'armed opposition groups' in question are being supported both by British
volunteers and by the Secret Intelligence Service, with diplomatic support from
the FCO, including the Foreign Secretary Mr William Hague. Their arms are
apparently being supplied via Qatar, Saudi and Turkey, all three of whom are in
turn armed by Britain.
Is there
anything that can be done about this? My feeling is that there isn't, but does
anyone know of any political initiatives that could be supported?
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