Image: The church not only distributes aid, but also cares for those in need and is a testimony to the joy and peace that can be experienced in the darkness of war through faith in Jesus.
Latifa Sulaiman is an elderly Syrian widow currently living in Aleppo. She says: "We lived well when my husband was healthy and able to work. But since this war started, it has been very difficult for my family. We suffered prolonged periods of illness and grief because of what happened in Syria."
Latifa's family owned a shop selling car batteries in one of the neighborhoods of Aleppo. At the very beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, a gunman entered the shop and forced Latifa's husband to hand over all his goods. In doing so, he destroyed the family's only source of income.
Image: Local Christians in the midst of relief work, bringing hope to people like Latifa and Hana.
After that, they were forced to live off their savings to survive, hoping to soon find a new way to make a living. But soon after, Latifa's husband became seriously ill with a nervous system disorder and was unable to take care of the family. He later died from his illness. "It was impossible for us to support ourselves, especially because my husband needed a number of expensive medicines. He suffered a lot."
The aging Latifa and her only daughter Hana then tried to work themselves. But due to the difficult situation during the war, they were unable to earn a sufficient income. The fighting in Aleppo worsened, prices for goods exploded and the family lacked a husband, father and breadwinner.
The fighting in Aleppo worsened, prices for goods exploded and the family lacked a husband, father and breadwinner. - Latifa
It was under these circumstances that our relief team came into contact with the two. We began providing aid and food to Latifa and Hana to help them through these difficult times. In a letter to our local partner, Latifah described what the aid has meant: "I thank you with all my heart! Your food aid is indispensable to us. We cannot survive without your help in Aleppo. The price of food has risen unreasonably. Your valuable help has lifted this unbearable burden from our shoulders. We thank you and your donors with all our hearts for your support!"
Thank you to everyone reaching out to the people of Aleppo. Through this project, local Christians are being equipped to bring joy, hope, comfort and encouragement to people living in a bombed and destroyed city.
