Nadine Maenza highlights critical projects supporting displaced Christian communities in North and East Syria
NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — During her recent visit to the North and East Syria, Nadine Maenza, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center and President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat (IRF), met with local organizations and communities to assess the state of religious freedom and ongoing relief efforts. Maenza’s visit to the Syriac–Assyrian villages of the Khabur River Valley shed light on the pressing humanitarian challenges faced by the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) communities in Khabur and across the region.
Glad to be back in NE #Syria!
I am in Tel Tal, one of the 34 #Assyrian villages along the Khabur River. This #Syriac–#Assyrian community has endured incomprehensible suffering as one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
In 2015, ISIS targeted them for genocide,… pic.twitter.com/0CfQjocw8a
— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) October 19, 2024
Maenza, accompanied by a team from the Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development (SCO) led by Malek Hanna, visited key projects aimed at supporting these displaced communities. One such initiative is an emergency water project launched in September 2024, in partnership with Shai Fund. The project provides clean drinking water to households affected by a severe water crisis in Hasakah District. Five water tankers currently transport water daily from wells in Tel Arbush to Hassakah and 13 villages along the Khabur River, where the agricultural sector has been severely impacted by drought and water shortages.
Maenza visited Khabur on 18 October, where she met with local villagers and learned about the devastating impact of drought and Turkish-built dams, which have significantly reduced the water supply. The villagers shared their concerns over the lack of rainfall, affecting their vineyards and farmland.
Maenza also visited the Church of Mor Odisho, which was destroyed by Islamic State (ISIS) and has since had its dome rebuilt.
During her recent visit to the northern and eastern regions of #Syria, Mrs. Nadine Maenza met with the @Syriaccrossorg.
The aim of the joint program was to show Mrs. @nadinemaenza the current projects of Syriac Cross organization which are funded by @ShaiFund. pic.twitter.com/Dx3OKJ5F9e— Syriac Cross _ Schlomo (@SCross_Schlomo) October 20, 2024
She visited the village of Qabre Hewore (Qahtaniyah), where she was introduced to an agricultural project launched in August 2024. This project, also funded by Shai Fund, helps communities cultivate agricultural land by providing essential tools, such as seeds, solar panels for water extraction, and a plow shared among local families. The project aims to build resilience by ensuring access to water and farming resources.
During her time in Qabre Hewore, Maenza engaged with families from the villages of Gersheran, Rutan, and Mharkan, who voiced their concerns over Turkish threats and the continued strain on their region. They expressed gratitude to the Syriac Cross Organization and Shai Fund for their vital support in sustaining their agricultural activities.
Maenza, a staunch advocate for the multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities of North and East Syria, concluded her visit by reiterating the need for ongoing international support to alleviate the hardships faced by these displaced populations. She commended the Syriac Cross Organization for its efforts and urged the global community to stand with these vulnerable communities against the violations they endure, particularly by the Turkish forces and their allies.