Syrian Archbishop warns of humanitarian catastrophe
January 04, 2013 - A Catholic archbishop of Syria is warning that the Jazira region
that is being flooded by Syrian refugees could soon face the prospect of a humanitarian
catastrophe. At least 400,000 refugees, mostly from Homs, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir-
Ez-Zor have poured into the region in the wake of the conflict between the government
and rebel forces. In an appeal to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Archbishop Jacques Hindo of Hassaké-Nisibis
has appealed for immediate humanitarian aid to the thousands of Syrian refugees in
Jazira. The Vatican’s Fides News Agency reported Archbishop Hindo as warning the
worsening situation “could soon become catastrophic." Food, medicine, electricity
and fuel are increasingly scarce in Jazira, the river plain area of Mesopotamia which
encompasses northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria. The area’s population of 1
and a half million has swollen to some 2 million and Church and humanitarian officials
are raising the alarm, saying not enough is being done to help them. The lack of
fuel is preventing people from heating their homes and is stopping farmers from planting
crops at the start of the season in the rich agricultural zone. Baby formula food
and medicines, particularly antibiotics are disappearing. In a letter sent to the
Iraqi prime minister, Archbishop Hindo made an urgent appeal for 600 fuel tanks, gasoline
and several tons of flour.