As fighting in Syria continues, the local Armenian community has been beset by increasing difficulties including threats to safety. The Armenian community of Homs and many Armenian families living in Aleppo and Damascus have fled their homes to find refuge with relatives. Local Armenian institutions have been struggling to continue operations.
Our Primate, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian is in constant communication with the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus His Grace Armash Nalbandian.
Bishop Nalbandian informed our Primate that a Syrian-Armenian emergency aid organization has been formed to provide refugees with housing and medical assistance, and also to attend to immediate needs of the community. In addition, the aid organization will aim to provide support to local churches, schools, and cultural institutions, which struggle to preserve the historic Armenian presence in Syria.
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada is now holding a fundraising campaign for the Armenian Community of Syria. This is an across Canada effort, to raise funds for the immediate needs of the families who have been forced from their homes or who no longer have means to make a living for the needs of their families. We trust that each individual Armenian in Canada will respond to this emergency request with a donation. The Diocese will in turn be able to forward the funds from this campaign directly to the Syrian Armenian Aid Organization.
Your contributions may be forwarded to the Diocese, earmarked “Syria.”
Your help is needed and will be greatly appreciated.
