SYRIA — Ani was horrified when her baby girl Maria was caught up in a bomb attack in Syria in 2014. In Ani’s survival story, Maria survived thanks to the prayers of the church – and Ani realised she needed to make Jesus her sure foundation. *Name changed for security reasons Ani*: “There are a…
SYRIA — One year on from the devastating earthquake in Syria/Turkey in February, 2023, large numbers of people are still mourning, recovering or rebuilding their lives. Open Doors highlights some of the Christians who were directly impacted. Kamal – Latakia, Syria: It’s terrifying and sad to remember the night of the 6th of February. I…
TURKEY — Since an earthquake rocked the people of Syria and Turkey in February 2023 Christian charity Help The Persecuted has provided practical and spiritual support to more than 12,000 people impacted by the disaster. As a colossal earthquake rocked the Syria-Turkey border in February 2023, Christian Charity Help the Persecuted has provided practical and…
TURKEY — As Christians in Turkey and Syria continue to suffer the long-term impact of the devastating earthquakes that struck last month, many nonprofit organizations and ministries are stepping in to provide needed aid. Galcom International, a radio and audio Bible ministry and MegaVoice partner, received an urgent request for solar-powered flashlights and chargers from…
ALEPPO, SYRIA — Many people in Syria felt abandoned when they saw the response to help them was too slow following the devastating earthquake last month which left thousands homeless.However Christian charity Help The Persecuted was quick to mobilize their team to provide vital supplies as well as work alongside local churches to also care…
BAKERSFIELD, CA — In coordination with No Child Hungry, CityServe International is helping provide meals and other essentials to those left homeless from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria last month. On March 4, at City of Destiny Church in Apopka, FL, CityServe will be working with volunteers to package meals provided by No…
SYRIA — In a recent video interview, Pastor Ibrahim from Syria discussed the challenges his community has faced following a devastating earthquake. In the interview, he emphasized the importance of prioritizing prayer during difficult times and fostering a deep relationship with God. Pastor Ibrahim shared how his church is helping the victims of the earthquake…
ALEPPO, SYRIA — Christian charity Help The Persecuted has mobilised field ministry teams in some of the worst-hit parts of Syria working alongside their local church partners to provide practical and spiritual support to those devastated by the recent earthquake. Their regional director Samar brings an update during one of their relief distributions in Aleppo….
SAN DIMAS, CA — Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) donated $5,000 to International Ministries (IM) emergency relief efforts for survivors of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, which was followed hours later by a second powerful jolt. Many buildings collapsed including hospitals,…
SYRIA — Apo and Jina have featured in several years of Open Doors’ ongoing Hope for the Middle East campaign. Here, they share their experience of the earthquake and their hope for the future. Apo and Jina: I was sleeping on the bed next to my son. A mild earthquake started and then it got…
EASTON, MD — U.S. media ministry SAT-7 USA (www.sat7usa.org) is responding to the humanitarian crisis in Turkey and Syria following Monday’s catastrophic earthquake. SAT-7 USA president Rex Rogers issued this statement: “Our local channel, SAT-7 TÜRK, is offering words of comfort and strength to viewers across Turkey, and calling for prayer for families who are…
SYRIA — In 2019, Open Doors visited Jina, whose husband Rober had been kidnapped by extremists early in the Syrian civil war. Jina has been raising their son, Apo, alone since then – but she continues to be supported by Open Doors. In 2019 Open Doors visited Jina, whose husband Rober had been kidnapped by…
AL-HWASH, SYRIA — When Alaa was displaced because of the Syrian war, he found a brighter future through a Centre of Hope, which helped him to establish a sawmill business. Alaa: “It’s an indescribable feeling for someone to be displaced, to lose his house, to lose everything he has.” It was 2011 when Alaa fled…
BEIRUT, LEBANON — Five Syrian refugee children have received a new way to access learning from Christian broadcast ministry SAT-7 from the comfort of their home. “They cannot go to school, so we took school to their home,” explains Mostafa, one of the young visitors. Three Syrian boys from SAT-7 ACADEMY program Puzzle visited a…
LEBANON — The civil war forced a Syrian, Jouan and his family to flee Syria to live as a refugee in Lebanon. But while there his cousin Pastor Nihad led him to faith in Christ. Watch his powerful story here. Jouan – Syrian refugee: “We used to live in a nice house. We had our…
SYRIA — Anwar, a Syrian Christian was persecuted and thrown out when he became a Christian – he didn’t have a home or family, but he had the incredible hope of life lived with Jesus. Thanks to Open Doors, a Centre of Hope was able to give him somewhere to live, and the chance to…
SYRIA — This month marks the 10th anniversary of the first demonstrations that sparked the Syrian Civil War. In that time, the Christian population decreased from two million in 2010 to under 700,000 today. Ten years of civil war in Syria have made life much harder for persecuted Christians – but Open Doors has been…
QAMISHLI, SYRIA — Pastor George Moushi leads a church in Qamishli, northern Syria. His church responded when the region was invaded by Turkish forces last autumn, providing vital aid for many vulnerable Syrians. Support from Open Doors has kept them going as they faced a very visible threat – bombs, soldiers, Islamic extremists and now…
BEIRUT – Triumphant Mercy Lebanon recently shared rising concerns about dangers being faced by displaced Syrians living in refugee camps in Lebanon.More than 1.5 million people have fled from the civil war that has raged in their home country since 2011.In mid-2015, the Lebanese government ceased registering displaced Syrians officially as refugees. Unregistered Syrian refugees…
Following Turkey’s incursion into Syria on November of 2019 and establishment of a “safe zone” in coordination with Russia, the beleaguered nation faces another refugee crisis. According to the United Nations, 6.7 million Syrians have registered with their High Commission for Refugees. Turkey hosts the largest share, with 3.4 million, followed by Lebanon with 1…
SYRIA – Samaritan’s Purse is providing emergency relief to Syrian families displaced by Turkey’s recent incursion along the border. The violence has created a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 100,000 people. Some have crossed the border into northern Iraq while others remain displaced within northeastern Syria. Samaritan’s Purse is meeting the desperate physical needs of…
ALEPPO – Jina was married to Rober in 2011. Their son, Abraham (known as Apo), was born in 2012. Rober was kidnapped in 2013 in Syria – targeted because he is a Christian. They don’t know if he’s alive. Jina and Apo live in Aleppo, Syria, where they are supported by Open Doors partner Pastor…
GENEVA — As Turkey pursues its military operation in north-east Syria, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is gravely concerned about the humanitarian impact on the people of the region. It is reported that tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing from the first waves of the Turkish attack, and that hundreds of thousands of…
BARDARASH, Iraq – More than 13,000 Syrian refugees have embarked on harrowing journeys through the conflict zones in their own country to find safety in neighboring Iraq. Their first stop across the border is the Sehela transit centre where Samaritan’s Purse staff has been present to greet them, help serve a meal, and offer them…
FOREST, VA — World Help, an international, Christian humanitarian aid organization, is responding to the crisis in northeast Syria following the recent Turkish offensive into the country. World Help is providing emergency supplies like clean water, food, blankets and hygiene kits to refugee camps where many are fleeing. Through World Help’s partners and programs, every…
ALEPPO – When life was at its hardest in Syria, Open Doors was able to provide essential support to more than 2,800 Syrian families. Pastor Abdalla stayed with them. Now that people are returning and rebuilding their lives, businesses and communities, Abdalla still helps. His church is a Centre of Hope, restoring independent futures for…
AL-HOL, SYRIA – The refugee camp at al-Hol is currently home to 70,000 refugees from the Syrian Civil War. Contained in close quarters in a space initially occupied by 9,000 persons, the population now includes about 11,000 widows, wives, and children of ISIS fighters. Local and international authorities believe that ISIS is attempting to muster…
The Syrian Civil War has been an epic crisis as the Assad regime attempts to retain its rule whilst ISIS rebels and others seek to wrest control as part of an attempt to establish an Islamic caliphate. About half of the Christian population has disappeared from the country either by death or diaspora. Yet, despite…
For many Americans, Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year” — but that’s not the reality for millions of refugees living in overcrowded displacement camps across the Middle East. Vernon Brewer, founder and CEO of the Christian humanitarian organization World Help, recently traveled to refugee camps near the Jordan-Syria border to deliver aid…
“Resources are scarce in refugee camps around the world, and this is the most dangerous time of the year for refugees. Please help us help them.” – Vernon Brewer FOREST, VA — For most Americans, Christmas is a season of family time, gift giving and joy — but that is not the case for millions of…
BEIRUT – According to the Thomas Reuters Foundation, “A Syrian army offensive in the rebel-held enclave of Idlib would have a “catastrophic” humanitarian impact and cause levels of civilian suffering unprecedented in the seven-year war, aid agencies have warned.” Joelle Bassoul from Care International said that a large-scale military offensive in Idlib would be catastrophic,…
DAMASCUS – Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been killed in the seven-year-long Syrian Civil War. An estimated 11 million people have been displaced from their homes, creating one of the greatest refugee crises in history. Over 270,000 people have fled to southern Syria during the month of July. The single largest displacement of…
Turkish Army Takes Afrin, Syria from Kurds AFRIN, Syria – Turkish forces have overtaken the Syrian town of Afrin, driving the Kurdish forces out. To most readers in the Western Hemisphere, this news has little relevance. Most us have no idea who’s who or what is where in the conflict in Syria. The situation for…
Syrian Christians are part of one of the oldest churches in the world. They used to be one of the major political forces in Syria , until ISIS started coming after Christians because they believe in an all Islamic state, also known as a Caliphate. BBC explains, “The founder of the Baath Party, which has ruled…
Heretiq In early April, Syria dropped chemical weapons on its own people. Even though no one knew who did the attacks, the United States government and other world leaders blamed President Assad for the attack on civilians. Some leaders called it a war crime. Per CNN, “World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports…
CC BY-SA 2.5 US backed rebels in Syria have captured a key city of ISIS in May. Per CNN, “US-backed rebels said they ‘liberated’ the strategic Syrian city of Tabqa and a nearby dam from ISIS.” The United States provided weapons for Syrian rebels. This was a controversial move. Turkey said the US was guilty…
Photo by Voice of America News: Henry Ridgwell At the end of November, 16,000 people fled Aleppo, as the Syrian Civil War between the Syrians and ISIS intensified. This left thousands upon thousands displaced. According to CNN, “Initial reports indicate that up to 16,000 people have been displaced, many into uncertain and precarious situations. It…
ALEPPO, Syria – A weeklong ceasefire came to a violent end as government-directed airstrikes pummeled the city. The attacks targeted a United Nations humanitarian convoy in rebel-held neighborhoods, killing at least 12 workers, while continued strikes killed another 70 and destroyed the city’s water station. The violence in late September heightened tensions between the United…
In the midst of a devastating civil war, Christian ministries continue to report thousands of Syrians are turning to faith in Christ. Numerous Christian groups and relief organizations are on the scene serving the Syrian war victims, and their work is having a dramatic impact. Indigenous missionaries are working up to 15 hours a day,…
When Khaled Omar, a Syrian Civil Defense White Helmet volunteer in Syria, rescued a 14-day-old baby boy from debris following a Russian air strike, the world cheered and celebrated his heroism. The “miracle baby”, after being buried for 16 hours, was safe at last in Aleppo. “I thought I was being delusional because I was…
SYRIA — In Uganda, fear and attacks from Islamic ADF militants are increasing. But thanks to your prayers, local Open Doors partners are supporting affected Christians with trauma counselling and spiritual support. *Names changed for security reasons Edward Bamcwanira – Retired Bishop, East Rwenzori Diocese: We are living in fear. And whoever says there is…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — “Persecution is real, and it is biblical, and Jesus told us we will face persecution in this world,” said Pastor Hassan Abduraheem during The Voice of the Martyrs’ “I Am N” Virtual Event earlier this month. During the online event, Hassan and two other survivors of Muslim extremism shared their inspiring stories…
NORTH KOREA — Longstanding Christian communities could disappear in parts of sub-Saharan Africa through a double blow of violent instability and authoritarian control. Christian minorities across east and west Africa face twin existential threats: violent disorder exploited by radical jihadists and autocratic governments backed by larger powers outside the region.This is one of the disturbing…
SEATTLE — From the Maui wildfires to devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, along with cyclones in Mozambique and Myanmar, Christian humanitarian organization World Vision has been at the forefront of extensive humanitarian response efforts worldwide, supporting communities in crisis. In 2023, World Vision responded to 78 disasters and humanitarian crises in 59 countries around…
MOROCCO — Just after the Morocco earthquake killed thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands more homeless Christian charity Help The Persecuted sent their team to some of the most hardest to reach communities to provide practical and spiritual support.
MIDDLE EAST — As the war in the Middle East intensifies and the region faces a devastating surge of violence, Help The Persecuted is on the ground as their teams minister to those fleeing into Lebanon. Neighboring Israel and Syria, Lebanon is the most open country in the Middle East to Christianity. Many persecuted believers…
EASTON, MD — As a young girl, Christina Issa found a way to block out the horror of war raging in her homeland of Syria — by watching a faith-based television channel for kids, broadcast in her native Arabic. She never dreamed that a few years later she’d be a presenter on the same channel,…
ANTAKYA, TURKEY — Samaritan’s Purse is providing 21,000 units of refrigerators, fans, and shade kits to earthquake survivors in Turkey who are living in tents. The relief supplies are part of a project to help families combat extreme heat in the region. Bryan Dodson – Samaritan’s Purse: We are in the Antakya, Turkey, which is…
EASTON, MD — Lebanon “needs a miracle” as the nation faces a deepening economic crisis, says a Christian media ministry based in the region. The Middle East nation between Israel and Syria has experienced surging unemployment, triple-digit inflation, a collapsing currency, rolling blackouts, and fuel shortages. “The Lebanese people are really hurting,” said Rita El-Mounayer,…
NORTHERN IRAQ — In 2014 when ISIS entered Mosul persecuted Iraqi Christian Namir was forced to flee the city with his family and seek safety in Northern Iraq in Erbil. But he struggled to earn a living to feed his family until he received help from Christian charity Help The Persecuted to start up his…
