Catholic aid group says only 541 Christians remain in Gaza

The Catholic aid organization missio has voiced deep concern about the sharp fall in the Christian population of Gaza, where 541 Christians now live. missio Aachen, the German Catholic aid organization, has launched a program called "Zurück zur Schule" (Back to School) to help the neediest families in the territory, with the backing of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The program covers education costs for the poorest families so that children and young people can keep studying. Its aim is to ensure that children can attend school despite the war, poverty and displacement. Schools in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank are expected to stay open or reopen.

Gregor von Fürstenberg, vice president of missio Aachen, said education matters in these conditions: "In this situation school means much more than lessons: it gives children routine, community and the certainty that they are not forgotten." He said education is essential if the new generations are to help rebuild their home in the future.

Economic crisis and constant pressure

Christians in Gaza and the West Bank have faced constant pressure, including violence, harassment and severe restrictions. Von Fürstenberg said, "Their communities must not be displaced from their ancestral home."

Restrictions on movement, the loss of work permits and the collapse of tourism have deepened the economic hardship, pushing unemployment in Christian communities to 54 percent, according to the Latin Patriarchate. The situation has raised concern that Christians may emigrate, particularly from Gaza.

Appeal for international solidarity

Many Christians have died in the armed conflict, from a lack of adequate medical care or from shortages of essential goods. The Latin Patriarchate has appealed for international solidarity, urging that aid go beyond immediate relief and give families a real prospect of remaining in their homeland.