Dario Salvi

As the country enters its tenth year of civil war, the situation remains critical. Hospitals are on their knees, hundreds of thousands of people are dead, and new humanitarian emergencies unfold. Fr Georges, a Blue Marist, a month ago thought that the liberation of Aleppo would bring peace. That illusion vanished amid “asphyxiating desperation”. The West fights jihadists at home but supports them in Syria. Catholics offer an example of openness and solidarity.

Card. Sako speaks of "a tragic and difficult moment", invitation to adhere to prevention and containment measures. The vicar of southern Arabia suspends masses for a month in the Emirates and Oman. In Bahrain the first victim of Covid-19 among the Gulf countries.

Grappling with the Covid-19 emergency, the Lebanese government has imposed restrictive measures. The Church has made communion in hand compulsory, until the end of the epidemic. This rite, which existed among early Christians, is opposed by a traditionalist group. The Ajaltoun incident causes ripples.

The centrist leader has the support of 61 MPs (out of 120 in the Knesset). The coalition of the outgoing Prime Minister stops at 58. Israeli rabbi: the time has come for a "replacement" after three "artificial" elections wanted by Netanyahu to remain in power. Greater involvement of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs.

In Iraq there are 124 confirmed cases and at least 10 dead. A state of emergency lasting 30 days. Baghdad borders and airport closed. Bishop Warduni: "rigid and heavy" measures in the face of "serious danger". The new media a channel to maintain communion with the faithful: "the strongest medicine is prayer".

Archbishop Hinder close to front line workers fighting the disease and invites the faithful to help people in these difficult times. The virus affects not only health, but also societies and economies. But the nation has "excellent" structures and there is "constant vigilance". Covid-19 also frightens ISIS jihadists.

Some 250,000 images from historical, religious and cultural volumes are a "treasure" now accessible to everyone. For Fr Goh, they bear witness to "the cultural exchange with the Jewish and Muslim worlds” and to the Franciscan mission in the Holy Land. They represent dialogue through science, education and medicine. The most famous is a chorale donated by Henry IV of England.

Israel’s outgoing prime minister, on trial, is seeking an emergency government. Gantz is open to the idea but wants it "broad" and representative. Bahrain accuses Iran of "biological aggression". In the Gulf States, the number of infections is rising, but at present no one has died yet. The emergency continues in Iran with more than 10,000 cases and 429 deaths.

Authorities ask public to "scrupulously comply" with the health regulations. Even in Kuwait places of worship closed until March 14th. Masses, spiritual retreats, prayer meetings, seminars and catechism canceled. From the Vicar of Arabia, guidelines and invitation to the faithful to pray.

To date, 8042 cases and 291 coronavirus victims have been recorded in the Islamic Republic. The most critical situation in the northern province of Gilan. Desperate need for N95 masks. US sanctions complicate the situation even more.

A source told AsiaNews that an "apparent calm" prevails in Idlib, where life “seems to have stopped”. Caution informs the military situation as belligerents wait for developments. Refugees are no longer able to enter Turkish territory. Civilians are concerned about food and fuel shortages.

For a Saudi intellectual, the virus is the work of Qatar to block Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan. An ultra-Orthodox rabbi sees signs of the "coming of the Messiah" in the epidemic. Others hand out Corona beer to the faithful, asking them to drink and pray. The al-Aqsa mosque compound is disinfected, whilst the Church of the Nativity is closed.