Syrian Christians flee war in Syria

(Vatican Radio) More than 60,000 people have died in Syria's uprising and civil war, the United Nations said yesterday, dramatically raising the death toll in a struggle that shows no sign of ending. UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said both government and opposition forces have been responsible for human rights abuses.

Among those most affected by the violence are Syria’s Christians, many of whom have already fled the country. “The Syrian situation, right now, is very difficult, and I think in the future will be more difficult," says journalist Nasir Habish. "And I think the war will continue."

He says there is a danger of Christians leaving the the Arab world. “The people that are very harmed are the Christians, because they are running away from Syria right now, and they are going to Lebanon, and most of them are leaving all of the Arab region and are going to Europe. We don’t want to lose the Christianity in the Arab region.”

He said he hopes Christians will remain in Holy Land, in Syria, in Egypt. “This is the land of Jesus. I can’t imagine the land of Jesus without Christians.”

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