"Iraqi refugees in Lebanon are about 75 thousand, and nearly 7 thousand of them are Christians. Now I hope their sufferings can be alleviated somehow". On the day when in Doha the Lebanese leaders have reached agreement, with the mediation of the Arab League, on the appointment of the new president and the election of a new Government, the Chaldeian bishop of Beirut, mgr. Michel Kassarji, recalls "the difficult situation of the Iraqi refugees" in the country of the cedar trees. "It is he says to SIR an open wound in Lebanon that the international community must be aware of. I appeal to all the countries, to all the European and non-European Bishops Conferences, for this emergency to be addressed. Many refugees die in the streets. They have no rights, help, work, food or schools. As a Church, ever if a minority and with few means, we do all we can to alleviate their sufferings, not least by giving them basic goods. But that’s not enough. That of the Iraqi refugees is a new emergency for Lebanon". "We hope that the Doha agreement will give them too a glimmer of hope. On our part, we have sought the intervention of the US Embassy to Lebanon, proposing a plan of aids and solidarity projects, as well as the help of the Holy See and the international community, and I will soon go to the UN premises in Switzerland too".
