“Many Syrian Christians are having difficulty affording necessities,” reports a Barnabas Aid project partner in the Middle East. “Countless families struggle daily to secure essential food items.”
The Christians of Syria have suffered the ravages of war, conflict and poverty for many years.
The country has been entrenched in civil war for over a decade. For several years from 2014 a quarter of Syria was controlled by Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh). International sanctions combined with the brutal rule of President Bashar al-Assad devastated the Syrian economy.
“The turmoil has severely disrupted the lives of Syrian Christians,” adds our partner.
The fall of Assad is not yet a new dawn. The country’s new leadership is drawn from an Islamist movement that may be a threat to Christians among others.
It was in Antioch, Syria that the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11: 26). Today, while the Christian community remains rooted in that legacy, it has been devastated. Once numbering around 1.5 million, Christians in Syria now number an estimated 300,000 – a sharp decline due to violence, persecution and poverty.
Bomb-damaged church building in eastern Syria
Families without basic needs
Among the worst affected are those who have been displaced twice. Having fled from Syria into Lebanon, in the past months they have been uprooted once again by the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
“Christians are seeking refuge in retreat houses or churches,” continues our partner.
“Others are attempting to stay with host families, but this is increasingly difficult given the severe economic crisis that has gripped Lebanon since 2019.
A refugee camp in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley. Some Syrian Christians have found themselves in camps here and in the Lebanese capital Beirut [Image credit: UK Department for International Development]
“Those hosting are already struggling under immense financial strain, and some displaced families are living in overcrowded conditions, with as many as 17 to 21 people crammed into a single small house.
“Some families who managed to rent apartments are sleeping on cold floors and have only basic means, such as small burners, to prepare food. The situation becomes even more dire for those vulnerable groups of the elderly, women and children.
“As winter sets in, the urgent requirement for basic needs is becoming a critical issue.”
Remind them that they are not forgotten
Barnabas Aid is working with project partners to provide food that will sustain Syrian Christians through another winter of uncertainty.
Could you help provide emergency supplies of food for our Syrian brothers and sisters? Could you pray for those who have suffered so much yet continue to hold onto their faith and the hope that Christ’s birth brings to all His people.
Having just celebrated Christmas, let us reflect on the example of Christ, who came to heal the broken-hearted and bring light to the darkest places (Isaiah 9:2).
Your donation will help bring that light into the lives of Syrian Christians, offering not just material support, but also the reminder that they are not forgotten.
Together we can help lift the spirits of those who are suffering and provide tangible aid to those who need it most.
