Labelled the world’s worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, the conflict in Syria has now entered its fifth year, it was reported at the beginning of April.
According to the UN, 18 million people are in need of urgent help as conditions have worsened dramatically and violence continues to escalate. While four million Syrians have fled into neighbouring countries, another 7.6 million are displaced within Syria. And an entire generation of children is growing up with no experience of a peaceful existence. Christians face the double problem of the war itself and the persecution they face as believers.
Islamist rebel groups particularly target Christians, who now have few safe havens left. Islamic State (IS) controls large parts of northern Syria, which it rules with extreme harshness. Recent attacks by IS rebels in the Khabur river area have displaced yet more Christians. Homeless and jobless, Syria’s displaced Christians are in desperate need of food and other basics.
