Many Christians are fleeing Aleppo and the situation is more dangerous than ever before. It's a year after Mosul in Iraq was cleansed of Christians by the Islamic State - after having been a stronghold for Christians and had Christian inhabitants for almost 2000 years.
Currently, entire congregations in Aleppo are considering fleeing together to Kurdish-controlled areas. In April 2015, there were still 85,000 Christians in Aleppo - four years ago, there were over 1 million Christians in the city.
Turkey threatened Al Nusra to attack Aleppo
NATO member Turkey is believed to have had more than a hand in the attack on Aleppo that began on April 11. Rumor in Aleppo has it that Turkey has pressured the Islamist rebel group Al Nusra to attack Aleppo. Turkey has reportedly threatened to close the border with the area in northwestern Syria controlled by Al Nusra if Al Nusra did not attack Aleppo. Al Nusra is deeply dependent on the open border with Turkey, where the rebel group gets all its supplies.
Turkey's controversial border policy
The majority of foreign fighters who join Islamic State or Al Nusra cross the open Turkish border. Meanwhile, Turkey has closed its border with the Kurdish areas and dug a three-meter deep trench to prevent aid from reaching the many refugees in these areas of Syria. Because of this three-meter deep trench, it is now also almost impossible for people who have sought refuge in the Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria to flee to Turkey.
Moderates are now fighting alongside Al Nusra
The moderate rebel groups supported by the West have now united with Al Nusra in their attack on Aleppo. These former moderate rebel groups have changed their name to Fatah, like the Palestinian group, and will paradoxically begin receiving military training by US forces, starting on May 9, 2015.
Christians are wondering what to do
Pray that the light of the church in Aleppo will not be extinguished and that God will work miracles. Pray that this attack will not lead to the cleansing of the last Christians in the city.
The Danish European Mission is supporting a relief team in Aleppo, distributing aid not only to Christians, but also to other displaced minorities. The aid workers are determined to help, but they are under greater threat than ever before. They don't want to flee, they want to stay.
It costs around DKK 680 to ensure a refugee family has food, water and medicine for a month.
