Christians in Syria need your help today

Barnabas Fund is today launching a crisis appeal for Christians in Syria who are hungry and helpless amid the brutal fighting between government troops and rebels.

The key battleground of Homs is encircled by fighters from both sides, leaving the Christians there and in the surrounding villages – approximately 100,000 – in the firing line, many of them trapped in the city.

Barnabas Fund is providing urgent help for Christians in Syria

First orphans and now whole families are being evacuated, and are in desperate need of food and basics. Prices have rocketed, supplies are running low, and it is often too dangerous to go out in search of food. Even in some parts of the country not directly affected by violence, there is inflation of 30-50%, while in Homs itself some prices have tripled.

More than 200 Christians have been killed, and the community has been beset by a series of kidnappings. The rebels make high ransom demands for the return of the captives, but in two known cases the victims’ bodies were found after the money had been paid. Some families are now becoming so desperate that they tell the kidnappers to kill their loved one immediately rather than subjecting them to torture.

Barnabas Fund is one of the very few Christian aid agencies helping Christians in Syria at this tumultuous time. We are working directly with Christian partners in the country to get urgent supplies to needy families.

There are two million Christians in Syria, around ten per cent of the population. Among them are thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees who have been forced from their homeland by anti-Christian violence and persecution, and are already in desperate need.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said:

I have just returned from the Middle East, where I met with many Syrian pastors and church leaders. Our brothers and sisters in Syria are in a desperate state, facing the daily struggle of trying to get enough food to feed their families while war rages all around them. And they are also understandably anxious about how this conflict is going to end and what that will mean for their future in the country. Please keep them in your prayers and give whatever you can to help alleviate their distress.

Give Today

If you would like to help Christians affected by the unrest in the Middle East, please send your donation to the Middle East Fund (project 00-1032).  Donate Online using our secure server.

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK. Please quote project reference Middle East Fund (project 00-1032).

If you prefer to send a cheque by post: Click this link for the address of our regional office. Please quote project reference Middle East Fund (project 00-1032).

For a quick donation of £3.00 by SMS (see terms and conditions here) text Barnabas/1032 to 70007 (Please note: This facility is presently only available to UK supporters).