“Along with Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio - the Roman Jesuit who has been missing in northern Syria for a week, perhaps kidnapped by jihadist groups operating in the area - the Provincial Assouad also refers to the plight suffered by Father Frans van der Lugt and the people he is living with, in the Jesuit residence in Boustan Diwan, in the center of the city of Homs, where according to Unicef sources 400 thousand civilians - almost all of them women, children and the elderly – have been left stranded and isolated due to the new government army offensive against rebel militias,” Fides news agency reports.
Fides says Fr. Victor thanked everyone who had shown concern for Fr. Dall’Oglio’s whereabouts and "the personalities and authorities who are doing their best to find him", hoping that "this ordeal will come to an end soon" so that Fr. Paolo can be reunited with his companions as soon as possible.”
With regards to the guests of the Jesuits’ residence in Homs, the Provincial of the Jesuits of the Middle East expresses his desire that no effort be spared to protect their lives. The Jesuits are committed to pursuing their humanitarian action among all and renew the intention to "work for peace and reconciliation in Syria,” their statement reads.
The Jesuits are committed to pursuing their humanitarian action among all and renew the intention to "work for peace and reconciliation in Syria,” the statement sent to Fides reads.