(Vatican Radio) A month after Jesuit priest Father Frans van der Lugt was murdered
in the Syrian city of Homs, his friend and colleague Fr Ziad Hilal SJ is continuing
his tireless humanitarian work. In 2012 Fr Frans asked Fr Hilal to start a centre
to help disabled children and destitute families in Homs.
Aid to the Church
in Need, is providing funding to the project so that thousands of families can continue
to receive assistance.
Speaking to Lydia O’Kane, the ACN’s John Pontifex says
6,000 families from Homs and the surrounding area are being cared for at the centre,
this he adds is regardless of their religious or ethnic background.
He goes
on to say that “there is an enormous pressure being brought to bear on minority faith
groups (in Syria) Christians in particular who are leaving in their thousands from
their homes.” It is estimated that more than 9 million Syrians have fled their
homes, of which 2 million have fled abroad.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview
with the ACN’s Head of Press and Information, John Pontifex