Syrian Civil War Archives

Syrian bishop calls economic sanctions ‘crime against humanity’

Mar 24, 2021

Several Catholic leaders in Syria and the heads of major aid organizations have joined forces in condemning economic sanctions against the country, arguing that they have little political impact but make the people suffer.

By Elise Ann Allen

Poverty hitting Syrians hard even as fighting wanes, leaders say

Mar 18, 2021

Food, cooking fuel, jobs and, especially, hope are hard to come by in Syria, said two Catholic leaders reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the war.

By Cindy Wooden

After 10 years, Syria’s war may be over but poverty ‘bomb’ has exploded

Mar 15, 2021

Ten years after Syria’s bloody civil war began, the country remains in the throes of a massive economic and social crisis with rampant poverty being the next major battle it faces.

By Elise Ann Allen

Papal representative to Syria warns Vatican diplomats ‘time is running out’

Oct 15, 2020

In a rare move, Pope Francis’s representative in Syria met on Thursday with the ambassadors accredited to the Vatican, in an attempt to raise awareness on the impact of the eight-year-long civil war in the country.

By Inés San Martín

Hope is dying in Syria, cardinal says

Sep 20, 2020

With no end of conflict and no path toward economic recovery in sight, the Syrian people are losing hope that any sense of peace and normalcy will return, said the apostolic nuncio to Syria.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

Christians, others warn Turkey is ‘weaponizing water’ in northeast Syria

Aug 30, 2020

Parts of Syria’s north where Kurds, Christians and Yazidis have practiced religious freedom in recent years are reportedly again under attack by mainly Turkish military and their allied Syrian Islamist fighters.

By Dale Gavlak

Reopening of ancient cathedral a silver lining for Syria’s Christians

Jul 22, 2020

Earlier this week Christians in Syria, particularly members of the Maronite Catholic Church, got a silver lining amid the woes of war and the coronavirus when the ancient Cathedral of Saint Elijah in Aleppo was formally reopened after years of restoration.

By Elise Ann Allen

Religious freedom commission: U.S. cannot ignore northeast Syria

Jun 11, 2020

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged Washington to take concrete actions to safeguard religious freedoms established in northeast Syria, an area imperiled by Turkish troops and allied militants.

By Dale Gavlak