Update: February 17th, 2023
Barnabas Aid reaching earthquake-affected Christians in Turkey and Syria: thank you for what you are making possible
With your continued giving and God’s unending grace, Barnabas Aid is channelling help to helpless Christians in the earthquake regions.
In Antakya (ancient Antioch), a pastor whose church and home collapsed now has a roof over his head again – thanks to your generous giving. “Everything is gone,” he had texted on the day of the earthquake, “We don’t have anything… the help is not here yet.”
Now, thanks to your gifts, help has arrived. For Barnabas Aid is funding rented accommodation for him. His entire congregation also lost their homes, and we will be helping to provide accommodation for them too.
Christians waiting in a church hall in Aleppo for distribution of food from Barnabas Aid
We have also sent money for blankets and heaters for them and other Christians in Turkey.
In northern Syria our local partners are distributing food, blankets, coats, shoes and health kits to Christian families in Aleppo, Hama, Tartous and Latakia. The focus is on getting aid to the neediest: female-headed families and those who were already poor, marginalised or suffering in other ways even before the earthquake.
Your gifts for our earthquake-affected brothers and sisters are making a real difference. “Thank you for being there,” said Angela from Aleppo. “God bless you all.”
If you have not given yet and the Lord lays it on your heart to do so, please give. Above all, please pray.
$15 could provide a family health kit
$20 could buy a warm coat for a Syrian Christian
$40 could buy two blankets for a Syrian Christian family who lost their home in the earthquake
Update: February 10th, 2023
Thank you for helping Christians in Turkey and Syria
We praise God for His enabling and thank our supporters who responded so quickly and generously to help Christian victims of the devastating earthquakes on Monday 6 February. Just three days later, the first food aid from Barnabas arrived in Aleppo, northern Syria. The rice, lentils, beans, chickpeas, bulgar and noodles were distributed immediately.
But the need is overwhelming. The death toll is over 21,000 and still rising. Thousands of buildings are destroyed. It is bitterly cold with snow on the ground.
Our next consignment of aid will be on its way very soon, bringing both food and blankets, God willing. Please pray that it arrives safely to those who have no other help. If you have not given yet and the Lord lays it on your heart to do so, please do.
"Everything is gone, the church is collapsed, my house is gone, we don’t have anything. People are cold and hungry and outside. There is crying and screaming everywhere. Many are under the collapsed buildings. The help is not here yet."
This was a text message from a pastor in Antakya, the modern name for Antioch where followers of the Lord Jesus were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). He was writing to some of Barnabas Aid’s project partners yesterday, 6 February, the day when two powerful earthquakes struck south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria.
Many church buildings in Turkey and Syria have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquake (Image source: Twitter)
The death toll in Turkey is already nearly 3,400 and in Syria more than 1,400 ‒ and likely to rise. Thousands of buildings are destroyed, it is bitterly cold with snow on the ground, and the needs are enormous. Tents, blankets, clothes, drinking water and hot food are some of the most urgent.
We are grateful to all the supporters who have contacted Barnabas Aid to ask whether we can channel donations to help the Christians affected by this disaster. Yes, we can. Please do give, as the Lord leads you. Above all, please pray.
