From the Holy Land to the Promised Land. The exodus of Christians from the Middle East, from Syria and Iraq in particular, is incessant. Owing to the ongoing war in these two Countries, to the rampant violence of ISIS, and to a decade-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians – unsolved and forgotten by the international community – Middle-Eastern Christians seek new Countries willing to welcome them, where they can settle down safely and in peace. For most of them the new Promised Land is not Europe but the US, Canada, and Australia. In fact, the numbers of Christians – notably Iraqis and Syrians – who decide to venture out to the Greek or Italian shores, defying death at sea, are decreasing, while increasing numbers of migrants decide to stay in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Kurdistan, where they can apply for asylum in the US, Canada and Australia, that have sizeable communities of Syriacs and Chaldeans.
New routes. There are no reliable figures on the routes of the Christian exodus. United Nations estimates show as many as 7.6 million internally displaced people in Syria and nearly 4.6 million Syrian refugees scattered throughout Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, North Africa and in Iraq, the latter with almost four million internally displaced persons. More than 90% of refugees and displaced people are Muslim, the remaining belong to various minority groups, including Christians. Thus these are relatively low numbers, especially when compared with the over 813thousand asylum applications of Syrian refugees (April 2011 – November 2015) filed in European countries, 57% of which are directed to Germany and Serbia, 31 % to Sweden, Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands and Bulgaria, and 12% to other countries. In Jordan there are several thousand Christian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees. According to Caritas slightly more than 10 thousand refugees are stationed in Jordan, 8thousand of whom are Iraqis. A total number of 19,837 Syrian Christian refugees have registered at the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center (CLMG) in 2015, while in the same year Iraqi Christian refugees amounted to 15,938. However, these figures don’t include the migrants hosted at the Centre. Fewer still are those who register at the High Commissioner for Refugees of the UN (UNHCR). It’s hard to find Iraqi and Syrian Christians in migrant detention camps, marked by high rates of discrimination and abuse. Those who don’t seek shelter in local churches are hosted by families and friends. They have no right to work, no medical coverage, their children have no easy access into public schools. Thus they wait for a visa to expatriate to the US, Canada, and Australia.
Why do they opt for these three Countries in particular? Alessandro Mrakic, officer at the United Nations Development Program, operating across the Middle-Eastern region, replied:
“Christian refugees are very well-informed on the situation of the EU, on its economic and financial situation, and the job crisis. They know that without a job they have no future. In Canada, Australia and the US they have more chances to see these needs fulfilled. In addition, they have no intention of cueing behind other thousands of Syrian, Iraqis and Afghan refugees, who are the vast majority of those who migrate to the EU today.”
It’s preferable to wait for a visa for the US, Canada and Australia staying in Jordan and Lebanon, “despite the long extension of time needed for the issuing of a visa: up to two or three years.” Before leaving for the desired destination migrants have to undergo a series of medical examinations and bureaucratic procedures at the embassies where they filed for a visa. In this waiting time, refugees rely on aids provided by the many humanitarian agencies, some of which are run by Muslims.
“Indeed, there are several Islamic organizations that provide support to Christians, just like Caritas. The divisions between Christians and Muslims – Mrakic said – are fortunately absent when it comes to reception and care.”
In the meantime the exodus is ongoing, with some heartaches suffered by Christians who, according to the UN officer, “say they need greater support on the part of the Church. Faith helps them overcome many difficulties, but material needs are increasingly urgent.”
A strategy needed for Christians. Moreover, the future of the region does not bode well. For Mrakic “it could take the path of mono-ethnic and mono-confessional States, with Shiite, Sunni, Alawite, and Kurdish influence areas. One day, when peace will be achieved, they could be facing an already divided scenario.” At that point it would become an urgent issue.
“Will there still be room for Christians?” “Yes – replied the UN representative – but only if they stay. That’s why a strategy is needed. If we want Christians to return to the Middle East, to Iraq, Syria, countries where interreligious and interethnic coexistence used to be exemplary, they must be helped to stay.”
Interreligious dialogue is all the more necessary given the escalating difficulties in the area. If they left, they would never return. Christians who continue living in the Middle East are the new saints because they are sacrificing themselves to rekindle Christian presence, despite major difficulties, with the significant support of the local Church, which in some cases is divided. They receive help to leave and help to remain.” One thing is sure: “we could give them greater help here than elsewhere, whether Italy or other European countries. They are not asking for luxury. They want what it takes to live and make ends meet. Monsignor Nunzio Galantino, CEI Secretary General, who has assured education to 1000 children by devolving to this cause 8×1000 of tax deductions, is well aware of such needs. It’s an investment for the future that will encourage Christians to stay. These children and their families have been given the following message: we are near you and we are trying to help you build a better future. Giving them an airplane ticket might not be enough.”
