NETWORK Executive Director and Board Member Meet with Iraqi Refugees in Middle East

Note: Simone Campbell, SSS, will share the findings of the delegation at a congressional briefing on February 6 from 2:00-3:30 pm in Room HC-8 of the U.S. Capitol.

January 24, 2008

On January 11, NETWORK Executive Director Simone Campbell, SSS, and Board Member Marie Lucey, OSF, traveled to Lebanon and Syria to meet with Iraqi refugees in migrant centers and other facilities. They were part of a delegation of eight Catholic sisters sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The purpose of their ten-day trip was to assess the situation of Iraqi refugees in the Middle East and to learn more about their needs for shelter, health services and education–along with their desire to return to their homes in Iraq in safety and security.

After their return, several delegation members took part in a conference call with NETWORK members, during which they shared their impressions. A recording of the call is available here. (Note: The early part of the recording is people calling in. The discussion begins about 7 1/2 minutes into the recording. You should be able to fast-forward to this section by clicking on the fast-forward button and holding it down until you reach that section.)

Click on the links to download the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center and General PowerPoint slides.

More complete information gleaned during the trip will be shared at a congressional briefing in early February and in the March/April 2008 issue of NETWORK's Connection magazine.

Before the trip Simone Campbell commented, “I am going on the Catholic Relief Services delegation to witness the reality of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Lebanon and bring the stories home. I know the statistics and theory of the situation, but not the living, breathing daily reality. I hope that our presence in the region will provide some measure of comfort to the refugees and the workers whom we meet in knowing that they are not forgotten. I know that their reality will be imprinted on my spirit and that my advocacy will take on a new sense of urgency and insight. Together, with my fellow delegates, I hope that we will be able to share the stories and stir hearts in the U.S. to respond to the refugees’ grave needs.”

“This is really about solidarity,” said Sister Arlene Flaherty, the CRS Northeast Peace and Justice Liaison who organized the delegation. “We want the Iraqi refugees to know that we are aware of their suffering. They have not been forgotten and we will pledge to make their plight more visible in the U.S. When we return, we will educate people and urge them to take action. Our hope is to advance human rights, well being, and hope for Iraqi refugees.”

While in the Middle East, the sisters also met with humanitarian aid groups and others who are assisting Iraqi refugees, as well as with Christian and Muslim leaders.

According to Maureen McCullough, CRS Northeast Regional Director, “This is the first time CRS has hosted a group of American women religious at our programs overseas. We hope this is the first of many collaborations to help those who are suffering in our world.”

The Delegation

• Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby in Washington, DC, and a Sister of Social Service.
• Anne Curtis of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Leadership Team. She is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• Arlene Flaherty, a Blauvelt Dominican sister and CRS Northeast’s Peace and Justice Liaison to Colleges/Universities and Religious Institutes. She is based in Philadelphia.
• Durstyne Farnan of the Adrian Dominicans, which host Iraqi sisters in Michigan and support their ministries in Iraq. Sister Farnan is based near Detroit.
• Antoinette Elizabeth Harris, an American Sinsinawa Dominican sister, International Co-Promoter of Justice and peace for the Dominican Order now based in Rome.
• Marie Lucey of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Associate Director for Social Mission at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. She is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• Clare Nolan of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, which has Syrian sisters working with Iraqi refugees in Syria. Sister Nolan is based in New York City and is the UN NGO representative for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
• Carmen Villegas, member of Las Hermanas, a network of Hispanic Catholic women. She is based in New York City.