Aleppo’s Armenian-populated Nor Kyugh district was attacked by missiles on Feb. 3, according to a report by Aleppo-based Perio News, which claimed the attack came from militant opposition groups.
One of the missiles hit an area between the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church and the Sahagian Armenian School of Aleppo, while another landed near an Armenian nursing home. According to the report, while some people sustained injuries, there were no casualties. Many buildings, including homes and stores, suffered extensive damages, as did several vehicles belonging to Armenian institutions, including a bus belonging to the Sahagian School.
The attack comes just over two weeks after the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church in Aleppo’s Munshieh district was severely damaged after militant groups launched a missile attack on several Aleppo neighborhoods, including Munshieh, Azizieh, and Saad Jabri on the morning of Jan. 17. According to the Aleppo-based Armenian news outlet Kantsasar, the church was hit a few hours after Sunday Mass. No casualties were reported. According to the report, the roof and pews of the church were partly destroyed.
Hours following the attack on the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church, the leader of the Armenian Evangelical community of Syria, Reverend Haroutune Selimian, visited the church to assess the damage. Community members also assembled at the church on Jan. 18 to begin the cleanup and restoration of the damaged church.
The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Eastern USA announced yesterday that it has raised more than $100,000 (USD) for Syrian-Armenian relief in the past six months.
The ARS of Eastern USA recently transferred $44,000 to the “Sponsor a Syrian-Armenian Family” program. In 2013, the ARS of Eastern USA launched the program to help assist Syrian-Armenian families in need. The program accepts donations in any amount to distribute basic needs like food, water, safe shelter, baby formula, clothing, and utilities.