CAFOD director discusses Syria and Iraq crisis with Pope
CAFOD's Director of Humanitarian and Emergency Response, Matthew Carter, met Pope Francis [29 September] at the Vatican, along with representatives of 40 other Catholic aid agencies and Churches, at a meeting to discuss the devastating humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq.
Matthew Carter said: "Ensuring that humanitarian access remains our number one priority in order to provide emergency assistance to men, women and children. The suffering is some of the worst I have witnessed and must be averted and people kept alive. Vulnerable people must be given access to water, food and urgent medical assistance and this is their right under international humanitarian law. Long term peace in the region is essential but the priority must be to end the conflict immediately, to stop the violence, killing and atrocities.
"And this was reflected in Pope Francis's address to the meeting when he said: 'Violence begets violence, and we have the impression of being caught up in a spiral of arrogance and inertia from which there is no escape... the work of all who like you, represent so many workers in the field, who are committed to helping refugees and to safeguarding their dignity, is certainly a reflection of God's mercy and, as such, a sign that evil has limits and does not have the last word'
Carter continued: " The Pope's message is loud and clear we cannot be paralysed by the enormity of this conflict, instead we must continue to do all that we can to reach those in need both inside of Syria and in neighbouring countries."
Source: CAFOD