Syria: Humanitarian corridor 'desperately needed' as hundreds seek shelter from sniper attacks

Damage at St Michael's Melkite Greek Catholic Church © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

More than 250 people have taken shelter in a church as widespread attacks and bombardments continue in southern Syria.

Between 60 and 70 families from different villages, including many Christians, have taken cover in the Capuchin Church of Jesus the King in the city of Suwayda.

Sources told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that they are surviving under "extreme conditions and continuous bombardment".

One source, who must remain anonymous for security reasons, told ACN: "In recent days, the church compound was hit by intense shelling. A shell struck the monastery, causing significant damage to water tanks and glass windows. Miraculously, no one inside the church was injured".

The witness said that life in the region has "become unbearable" suffering from a lack of water and electricity, a depletion of food supplies and the looting of warehouses.

Another source said: "The siege continues, and sniper fire makes it impossible to get out.

"Sporadic gunshots are heard and fear is constant, with no clarity on who the fighting factions are. There are still many missing people - they could be in other villages, or dead in their homes."

On 16th July St Michael's Melkite Greek-Catholic Church in Al-Soura Al-Kabira was attacked, suffering significant damage.

Some 38 homes belonging to Christian families were reportedly destroyed by flames, with around 70 people taking refuge in a large church hall in Shahba.

The source told ACN: "The local hospital is out of service, with more than 1,200 bodies awaiting burial for over a week."

A religious Sister who is in contact with the displaced families in eastern Suwayda, said: "the entire city remains in deep crisis."

She said that after 10 days of siege they felt "completely trapped. The roads are dangerous, filled with sniper fire and chaos. No humanitarian corridor has been established, and no aid has reached the city."

The Sister added: "Many are experiencing severe panic attacks, emotional breakdowns, and extreme anxiety. There is an urgent need for sedatives and mental health support - people cannot sleep, they are overwhelmed by fear and horror.

"The situation is one of dehumanisation beyond belief, with dead bodies lying in the streets. There is no dignity left for the living, nor for the dead.

"We call on the world to act - we need an urgent humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians or to bring critical medical and food aid.

"We need mental health support, essential medicines, international attention, compassion, and above all, immediate action.

"We are living through a dire tragedy. We don't know how we will continue or how this will stop and what the aftermath will be, whether on our physical and mental health.

"Our needs are endless, but what we truly need is prayer and God's intervention - only he can get us out of this."

ACN is in contact with the local Church. Project partners warn of the growing risk of outbreaks of epidemic due to the shortage of essential medical supplies such as insulin, antibiotics and surgical materials.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org