Catholic priests in Aleppo have appealed for prayers and solidarity as renewed fighting in the city’s northern districts displaced thousands and deepened civilian suffering, even after a ceasefire halted recent military operations.
“We ask for your prayers, your solidarity, your support, and that the voice of Aleppo will not be forgotten,” said Father Bahjat Karakach, parish priest of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Aleppo, in a testimony sent to AsiaNews.
Father Karakach said “the situation remains fragile and uncertain” despite the “withdrawal of the Kurdish SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] militia” following a ceasefire with the Damascus leadership that “ended the military operation at 9 a.m. on January 10.”
“Since January 6,” he said, “the city of Aleppo has seen violent clashes in numerous northern neighborhoods” between government forces and Kurdish militias and their international allies, particularly in Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid.
“These events,” he said, “have led to the displacement of thousands of families, the partial interruption of all essential services, and fueled a climate of fear and instability among civilians, especially the elderly and children.”
As violence escalated, Father Karakach said the Church sought “to be present wherever there was pain.” He said “the Terra Santa monastery in Aleppo” opened its doors to displaced families “of all religions and backgrounds,” providing food, shelter, and basic necessities “without any discrimination.”
He described residents as “exhausted” by “wars, bloodbaths, repeated traumas, and endless crises,” saying it is “time to live in peace” and to assure children “the right to hope for a safe and secure future.”
“I cry out even more forcefully: hope is wounded, but it remains alive,” he said. “We ask the Lord to grant peace to this land, comfort to those who suffer, and instill courage in all to choose love over terror.”
According to AsiaNews, all SDF fighters left Aleppo after a truce with the Syrian central government, brokered by the United States among others, ending days of clashes that left 24 dead, 129 injured, and more than 140,000 displaced.
