Bishop Kicanas in Gaza: "the terror of people during bombings"...

(Vatican Radio) Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson Arizona recently took part in this year's Holy Land Co-ordination visit. An annual visit on the part of a delegation of Bishops from across Europe and North America in solidarity with the Christian Churches in the region.

This year the bishop's pilgrimage included meetings with Christian communities in Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Madaba and Zarqa. But also for Bishop Kicanas, chair of the Board of 'Catholic Relief Services', meetings with the people of Gaza in the aftermath of the air raids and bombings that recently took place there.

Veronica Scarisbrick travelled with the delegation of bishops and asked Bishop Kicanas for an eye witness account of his fact-finding visit to Gaza: "...what was very moving was to hear about the terror that people felt during that time because the bombings took place at night, there was no electricity, people were terrified hearing the explosions and then they talked about how terrrifying it was for the children being in the darkened home...Hearing these noises and not knowing whether one of these bombs would strike their own homes...One woman had taken part in a risk reduction programme of 'Catholic Relief Services' which helps parents know what to do with children in war situations and siege"...

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