Russian Orthodox Church carries healthcare equipment and medications to Syria

Representatives of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and the Russian Orthodox Church have carried medical equipment at the amount of about three million rubles to Damascus, said Hieromonk Efrem, acting representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Patriarch of Antioch. Humanitarian cargoes included boxes to care for newborns, wheelchairs, automatic ventilating machines, crash carts and medications (the total amount reaches about two tons), Hieromonk Efrem told Itar-Tass on Monday. “Hospitals asked us for this. We also visited a military hospital and children’s clinic in Damascus to learn what they need,” Hieromonk Efrem said. In addition, the Russian delegation visited the humanitarian aid centre of the Antioch Orthodox Church where two batches of medications had been delivered within two weeks. “Every day they assist to 800 refugees and help everyone regardless their confession. Unfortunately, the fire forced us to leave the centre immediately,” Hieromonk Efrem said. In his words, medical institutions need baby food – infant formulas, which replace breast milk. Since the EU stopped its supplies Syrians asked the Russian Orthodox Church to help them. Hieromonk Efrem noted that the Russian Orthodox Church, which continued its aid to Syria, would try to resolve the issue. The Russian delegation also met Patriarch John X of Antioch and Mufti Badreddin Hassoun of Syria. At the end of June Patriarch Kirill urged Russians to assist to their brothers in Syria. “We cannot stop the war. But we’ll be able to pray for it to cease as soon as possible and assist to our Christian brothers... I ask you to follow Christ’s example and help our brothers,” Patriarch Kirill said in relation to the tragic events in Syria. As of today 7.155 million rubles have been collected to be given to the Antioch Patriarchate.