Tens of thousands of Syrian Catholics flee Islamist advance

June 27, 2014

More than 90% of the people of Qaraqosh, a largely Catholic city of over 40,000 in Syria, have fled as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant moved to capture the area.

The jihadist group now controls approximately one-quarter of Syria and one-third of Iraq.

Archbishop Youhanna Boutros Moshe, who is among the few who remain in the city, told the Fides news agency that he appealed “to the consciences of political leaders around the world, to international organizations and to all men of good will: it is necessary to intervene immediately to put a stop to the deterioration of the situation, working not only at a humanitarian level, but also politically and diplomatically.”

“Every hour, every day lost, is likely to make all unrecoverable. Inaction becomes complicity with crime and abuse of power,” he added. “The world cannot turn a blind eye to the tragedy of people who have fled from their homes in a few hours, taking with them only the clothes they are wearing.”

 

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Further information:

• Syrian Catholic Archbishop Moshe’s appeal to the international community: Save us! (Fides)