Catholic Charities urge support for peace efforts in Middle East

Prime minister promises additional humanitarian assistance for Syrians

OTTAWA (CCN)

Catholic charities urge the Canadian government to back peace efforts to bring about a cease fire in the Middle East that began in Geneva on Jan. 29.

Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada national director Carl Hetu said CNEWA backs Pope Francis’ “very strong message that the only way out of the violence in the Middle East is on the negotiating table.”

“We need to put all our efforts to end the conflict with an immediate cease fire so we can start to build peace,” he said.

“I believe like the Pope, like many, many analysists, that only peace in Iraq and in Syria will defeat ISIS,” Hetu said. “It’s the division in Syria and in Iraq that has created ISIS. Once there’s peace in Syria and Iraq then you can concentrate into defeating ISIS. Then defeating ISIS will be quick.”

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace In-Canada Programs deputy director Ryan Worms agrees. “We think the only long-lasting solution will come from diplomatic efforts and negotiations between the belligerents and the inclusion of civil society,” Worms said.

“Peace is the ultimate way to protect everybody, the Christians included,” said Hetu. “Canada needs to be behind those peace efforts in Geneva.”

In a Feb. 8 announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to Canada’s military mission in the Middle East and promised additional humanitarian assistance for Syrians displaced by war or seeking refuge in neighboring countries. He did not mention the talks in Geneva.

Trudeau promised a new approach to ISIS that includes bringing back the jets that have been flying combat missions, but increasing the number of personnel involved in training fighters against ISIS/ISIL in Iraq and in doing intelligence missions.

“Call us old-fashioned, but we think that we ought to avoid doing precisely what our enemies want us to do,” said Trudeau. “They want us to elevate them, to give into fear, to indulge in hatred, to eye one another with suspicion and to take leave of our faculties. The lethal enemy of barbarism isn’t hatred. It’s reason. And the people terrorized by ISIL every day don’t need our vengeance, they need our help.”

Canada will commit to $840 in humanitarian assistance over the next three years. “This means children, women, men and whole families being provided with water, food, shelter, health care, sanitation and hygiene, protection and education,” he said. Canada will also provide $270 million to help “build local capacity” for neighboring countries “hosting large numbers of refugees.”

Worms welcomed the announcement of increased humanitarian aid.

“We hope that the government will do everything in its power to ensure the humanitarian support reaches the most needy and that includes working to ensure access to the worst areas in Syria under siege,” Worms said. “At the same time if we welcome with hope the increase of financial support, we are worried to see the Canadian government pursuing a military solution to the conflict.”

Worms pointed out Canada will still “participate in supporting the combat mission with providing fuel, providing logistical support, so even if there will be no more direct strikes from Canadian planes, they will still participate in the military.”

The military operation has not brought any hope, Worms said. “We are seeing millions and millions of people suffering, and trying to escape from the horror of this war,” he said. “And we’re seeing situation in neighboring countries getting more tense every day.”

Anti-terrorism expert John Thompson, however, expressed disappointment at Canada’s announcement. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Canada so embarrassed on the world stage by its own government before,” said the Strategic Capital Intelligence Group vice president of business intelligence.

While the humanitarian aid is “nice,” Thompson said Canada has to invest in warships, plans and “personnel on the ground in combat boots, then you get a say.”

“If you want to run around being non-committal, no one’s going to listen to you,” he said.

Canada’s position in the Middle East says in effect, “We’re not having a combat role, but it’s a combat role if necessary,” Thompson said. “It’s vague enough to avoid criticism, but a refusal to recognize the realities of combat. If you have troops on a training mission, the enemy gets to decide if they are on a combat mission, not us.”