ACN: Syrians trying to survive on a dollar a day

By Vatican News staff reporter

Returning from a 10-day visit to Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, Regina Lynch, director of projects for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), has painted a grim picture of the situation facing many people in both Syria and Lebanon.

Ms Lynch said Syrians are “very tired” from a decade of civil war and insecurity, adding that they are “wondering how they are going to rebuild, who is going to help them rebuild the country. But, before that, there has to be some form of peace…

“They are trying to survive on a dollar a day – unthinkable in a country where, before the war, a large part of the population lived quite comfortably.”

She also described being shown heartbreaking pictures of a Syrian girl rummaging through a large rubbish bin and passing things to her mother.

Tragic situation

Speaking about the crisis that has sparked an exodus of Christians in both countries, Ms Lynch said, “It’s truly tragic. Many of the Christians we talked to [in Lebanon], those whom we know, their relatives, want to leave. For so many, survival is a real uphill struggle with basic needs in short supply.

“Before the crisis, a teacher could earn between US$1,700 or $2,000 a month. Now, with inflation and the devaluation of Lebanese pounds against the dollar, a teacher’s salary is worth $120 to $150 at most.”

She added: “To put it sadly, the people are anxious. It’s getting worse and worse. Last year we were in Beirut but this time we really saw the decline and despair.

“The same goes for Syria. Before the crisis, Aleppo was home to an estimated 300,000 Christians of different denomination, now some say that only 30,000 are left.”

ACN continues to support more than 100 projects in Lebanon and Syria, including emergency aid, medicine, support for Religious, and more.

(Source ACN)