By Robin Gomes
Easter is approaching and “for the first time, churches in Syria are closed” because of the spread of the Covid-19, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria told Vatican News.
Covid-19 threat
So far, 16 cases of infection and 2 deaths have been reported in the country, where infrastructure for basic services is in appalling condition.
The war has left more than half of the country’s hospitals non-functional with the lack of drinking water, food, medicine and shortage in healthcare personnel.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in overcrowded camps in unhygienic conditions, where it is impossible to think of washing hands to fight the spread of the coronavirus infection.
While churches are closed and Christians are following the guidelines of the authorities, Cardinal Zenari said, charitable and health programmes are trying to continue amid great difficulties.
The Italian cardinal explained that the humanitarian initiatives, supported by the generosity of many Christians around the world, were suspended some time ago because of the crisis in neighbouring Lebanon.
The situation has further deteriorated with travel restrictions and border closedowns across the world in the wake of the pandemic.
This has badly hit the “Open Hospital” initiative, through which a Greek Orthodox hospital and a few small dispensaries were providing free medical service to the poor and sick people.
Donor fatigue, ceasefire, sanctions
Noting a drop in aid from individuals and the international community in recent years, he lamented that people and the media today are less interested in the Syrian tragedy.
He cited a Syrian journalist who remarked that Syrians are “just left to die”. The cardinal said this is also the risk that Syrians are running should a coronavirus pandemic break out.
Cardinal Zenari backed UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who has called for a global ceasefire and the lifting of sanctions on certain countries, including Syria, to ensure food and medicine to fight COVID-19.
Pope Francis who has backed Guterres, has also urged for creating corridors for humanitarian aid.
This terrible pandemic, the cardinal said, should be an opportunity to silence forever the din of weapons in Syria and initiate a fair political solution.
“It would be unforgivable if it were another missed opportunity.”
Nevertheless, Syria, which is in the 10th year of its ongoing conflict, is in solidarity with the rest of the world that is grappling with the coronavirus emergency, the Holy See’s representative to Syria said.