(ANS – Aleppo) – While Aleppo faces yet another period of profound uncertainty and hardship, the Salesians of Don Bosco present in the city have shared a message to reassure everyone of their continued presence and commitment to supporting and accompanying young people, families, and those in need as much as the current situation allows. Their focus remains firmly on Jesus, the source of eternal hope.

(ANS – Madrid) – One in six children worldwide lives in extreme poverty; over 160 million children work to support their families or just to simply survive; more than 426 million live in countries affected by armed conflicts; over 250 million do not attend school; one billion children experience some form of violence, 50 million suffer from malnutrition, more than 37 million are displaced, migrants, or refugees; and over 24,000 children die every day due to a lack of basic care. These are the figures highlighted by Misiones Salesianas, the Salesian Mission Office based in Madrid, Spain, on this International Children’s Day, observed on November 20 to commemorate the 1959 adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly.

The pontifical foundation "Aid to the Church that suffers" (ACS) has published a report entitled "Persecuted more than ever – Report on Christians oppressed for their faith 2022-24".

(ANS – Beirut) – In 2024, Lebanon was showing timid signs of reviving its economy after the previous 4 years of severe economic crisis that brought disastrous consequences for Human Rights and forced more than 80% of the population into poverty. However, on 1 October, the escalation of the war in the Middle East also involved Lebanon and the intensification of violence generated an unprecedented humanitarian emergency, with thousands of deaths and injuries and about 1.2 million people who had to leave their homes in a hurry in search of a safe haven.

(ANS – Beirut) – Salesians in Lebanon are assisting more than 2,000 displaced people from the south of the country, along with families affected by the war. "More than 275 families are receiving food, medicine and petrol/gasoline because the conflict has made them lose their jobs or because they are people in a serious situation of vulnerability," explain the Salesians who work in Lebanon.

(ANS – Madrid) – From 11 to 13 October 2024, the third stage of a threefold proposal by the Salesian Mediterranean Region took place in Madrid, aimed at deepening and updating pastoral activity in its many facets.

(ANS – Damascus) – In a country devastated by years of war, young Syrians stand as symbols of resilience and hope. Despite the countless difficulties that surround them, they show a surprising skill and intelligence that distinguishes them, an ability to face daily challenges with determination and a spirit of sacrifice. Syria, with its destroyed political and social landscape, may seem a place where the future is uncertain and prospects are scarce, but young people, despite living in physical and emotional ruins, manage to build spaces of hope and give value to the present.

(ANS – Beirut) – The situation in the Middle East worsens day by day. Added to the conflict in Gaza are the bombings in southern Lebanon. Thousands of people have lost their lives or have been injured and more than a million have been forced to flee their homes due to the attacks. “At the Salesian school in El Houssun, Lebanon, we are already taking in more than a hundred displaced people. They arrive with nothing and we do everything possible to give them our help and a safe place, ” the Salesians in the region explain.

(ANS – New Rochelle) - Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins Catholic organizations around the globe in honoring World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The day, celebrated on Sept. 29, will be the 110th celebration of the day, which was started in 1914 as a way to highlight and express concerns for vulnerable populations of people who have left their homes in search of safety and more opportunity.

Just a few days ago, on 8 September, International Literacy Day was celebrated, a date that highlights, among other things, an alarming fact: more than 765 million people around the world cannot read and write.