Syrian Christians need our help

Equipping the local church to bring hope

Through this relief project, we equip Syrian Christians to make a positive difference inside Syria, alleviating the famine and death taking place around them. Through our aid, Christians are able to help the poorest internally displaced refugees, primarily women and children who have lost everything. Around 75 % of the beneficiaries of emergency aid are Christians, while 25 % are from other backgrounds. According to figures from 2014, Syria's Christians made up approximately 9 % of the population.

The hardest hit areas get help

For this project, we have chosen the northern areas of Syria that are worst affected by the conflict. These are Aleppo including the many Kurdish villages in Afrin, many Christian villages along the Turkish and Iraqi border, the north-eastern governorates of al-Hasakeh and al-Qamishli, Tel Tamer and Malkiyeh.

Image on the right: Food warehouse

You may have heard in the media that Islamic State attacked Christian villages in northern Syria in late February and abducted over two hundred people. One of the employees in our project has relatives who were taken hostage by ISIS.

All civilians who were not taken hostage have fled these villages. Many have fled to the cities of al-Hasakeh, al-Qamishli and Malkiyeh, where the Danish European Mission is supporting local Christians in distributing aid.

Syrian Christians' local knowledge is exploited

As local churches we work with, they know the area, its people and language well, which also helps them to best assess their own safety in combat situations, as well as the resources available and the logistics needed for the project to succeed.

Wherever possible, we coordinate all our humanitarian efforts with the relevant authorities and institutions in the local community, as well as with other organizations and private initiatives with activities in the same area, and we try to cooperate with all those who are willing to do so.

The project supports Syrian entrepreneurs

With the project, we also support the economic development of the country as we buy all the goods in Syria. We want to provide work for Syrian businesses and people who help with distribution. It is difficult to import materials and goods from outside and in the current situation it can encourage corruption.

This is what the emergency aid packages consist of

Our relief plan is about supporting the poorest families inside Syria. They get the necessary food, water, milk and medicine. In winter, they get clothes, blankets and fuel.

Women and mothers with young children get special help

We also support women and breastfeeding mothers, malnourished children and infants and children with special nutritional needs, and distribute diapers for babies up to two years old and hygiene items for women. In addition, we provide emergency medical care for the sick and medical supplies.

Emergency aid ensures Christians can stay in Syria

This support will be of great importance to the poor and refugees inside Syria, and it will help many avoid emigrating abroad. At the same time, Christians also provide emergency aid to others in need: the many internally displaced people, the hungry, vulnerable women, mothers with young children and the sick. The support prevents famine and rising crime and prostitution caused by economic hardship.

The church conveys hope

Through this practical relief work, the church is a testimony of God's love for people in the midst of war and the worst human degradation. Relief will thus bring hope and give the recipients of the aid a chance for survival and a new future.