The story of how one Iraqi refugee preserved the memory of home through her art

At the end of 2022, according to the United Nations, more than 108 million people worldwide “were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order.” The figure represents an increase of almost 20 million people over 2021.

“These are strong, courageous people of hope,” Daniel Corrou, S.J., the director of Jesuit Refugee Service/Middle East and North Africa, said. But even hope has its limits.

Catholic humanitarian agencies are launching emergency relief campaigns following Feb. 6’s devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, which have so far killed more than 11,200 and injured upward of 40,900.

Pope Francis expressed his “spiritual closeness” and “solidarity” with those affected by a pair of powerful earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria Feb. 6.

In a statement condemning the attack against a Christian site—the fifth in Jerusalem in five weeks—the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land said it was following the incident “with concern."