The escalation of news reaching us from the Middle East is causing growing dismay among the many people who sincerely desire peace and security for all, not just a few. Unfortunately, authoritative appeals to once again leave the armed conflict to diplomacy, and calls for prayer for Peace, seem vain and naive.
But the very gravity of current events, which unfortunately are compounded and amplified by other conflicts and humanitarian crises, demands a courageous and prophetic response from every single person, every citizen who cares about the Common Good, and Peace as the foremost of these goods.
The Focolare Movement, which has communities living in many of the conflict-affected areas, also renews its commitment on many levels: from emergency aid for the most vulnerable populations forced to live in uncertainty and fear and deprived of any form of sustenance, to active citizenship actions within its institutions and civil society.
Thus, the AMU, together with the Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination and AFN, renews an appeal for solidarity to help the thousands of families on the run: many have lost their homes, others are seeking refuge in facilities that are reopening despite increasingly limited resources. In this ever-changing scenario, we want to stand by those who suffer, ready to support local initiatives for shelter and concrete assistance.
Every contribution will help bring immediate relief and, together, imagine paths of hope and reconstruction.
We invite everyone to join this effort: peace is also built this way, by choosing not to look the other way.