The Kallio church is honoring the fallen victims of Aleppo and peacefully protesting the violence taking place in the war torn country of Syria, where the death toll continues to rise as well as the number of people displaced from their homes.
The Lutheran establishment will ring its bells everyday until Oct. 24, United Nations day, which is held every year to honor its creation. This year marks the international organization’s 70th birthday.
The Church’s decision to step out on faith and encourage a movement is catching on.
At this time over a 500 churches around the world – 150 in Finland alone – have signed up for the same commitment, reported the non-profit Lutheran World, citing it as an action done to raise awareness over the bombings in Aleppo, which is one of many, since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis started six years ago between the pro President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and opposition forces.
Oct. 12 was the first day, the Evangelical Lutheran parish began playing the funeral melody to mourn the people who have lost their lives including aid workers, hospital staff and citizens.
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In 2012, shortly into the national fight, the Battle of Aleppo began and engulfed the once densely populated region with chaos and destruction.
As of Thursday, due to continued fighting in the eastern part of Aleppo, there has been a call for a humanitarian pause between the joined Russian and pro Bashar Al-Assad forces fighting against the opposition, Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Concerns over the current people in need are high, especially the 200 that are “severely wounded” and for the community that desperately needs food and medical supplies.
The United Nations requested a five day cease fire to provide such measures but Russia agreed to only three.
Jane Egeland, the current chair of the United Nations/ International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) Task Force on Humanitarian Access in Syria, reiterated this concern at a press conference held at the United Nations Geneva headquarters on Thursday.
He said, “We hope that the first medical evacuations from Eastern Aleppo can take place tomorrow” which is a reference to Friday.
The Lutheran World Foundation Assistant General Secretary for International Affairs, Ralston Deffenbaugh echoed the need for the terrifying actions in Aleppo to stop.
He said, “So many in our world feel helpless as we see the horrific news from Aleppo—a vibrant city rich in culture and history (that) is being bombed to rubble. The human suffering is unspeakable.”
Deffenbaugh also added that the Finland based Lutheran church rarely rings their bells but felt called to do so because of this travesty.
The Lutheran organization estimates that 4.6 million people have fled into neighboring nations and another 6.6 million have been internally displaced.