SYRIA — With the sudden takeover of Syria by Islamist rebels driving out Syrian President Bashar Assad, Christian ministry Help The Persecuted says Christians there are in an increasingly perilous situation.

Before this offensive began, Syria was home to an estimated 300,000 Christians.

The takeover by Jihadist forces has the Christian community concerned that they are being taken back to the time when Jabhat al-Nusra desecrated Christian churches and imposed Islamic Sharia law.

While some fled the conflict, the majority of Christians had no resources to leave and are facing a major lack of access to essentials, including food, water and electricity.

In the midst of this crisis Help The Persecuted will continue to stand with the Christians there who have endured not only intense persecution, but also economic hardship after several years of conflict as well as the recent earthquake.

“When rebels first took over Syria’s second largest city Aleppo, while many people were able to flee, the majority of Christians didn’t have the resources to evacuate and were left without access to vital essentials,” explains Daniel, Help The Persecuted Field Minister for Syria.

He added: “That’s why we will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters there providing vital food supplies and living expenses in the coming months.”

Daniel who had to temporarily leave Aleppo is urging prayer and support so that he can return as soon as possible to continue ministering to persecuted believers, even if it means risking his life.

Help The Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef explains what this takeover means for the long-term future of Christians in the region:

“There’s a lot of fear about whether or not these rebel groups will rightly judge and rightly govern with Christians and other minorities in country. Is this going to allow for a flourishing of Syria where you have all these different groups, Druze and Christians and Muslims, all working and governing together, or does this turn out like Libya or Iraq where ISIS came in the Northern part of that country and wreaked havoc on Christians? That’s what we don’t know right now.”

Help The Persecuted says at this uncertain time they plan to expand their work in Syria to rescue, restore and rebuild the lives of many more persecuted Christians – enabling the church to endure and flourish.

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, Persecution, and Humanitarian Services on Missions Box.

About HTP

Millions of Christians around the world have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their families to persecution. Many more are forced to evacuate and leave their entire lives behind. When lives hang in the balance, every minute counts. That’s why Help The Persecuted has embedded in the field those who can help Christians in-person at a moment’s notice. Since launching the charity has delivered practical and spiritual support to over 135,000 vulnerable people to address their most urgent needs, including:

• Emergency Safe House housing
• The provision of food, housing, rent and basic living needs
• Transportation and relocation expenses to secure a safe environment
• Establishing small businesses and providing vocational training
• Construction assistance to rebuild homes and family businesses
• Medical expenses related to torture or abuse, and vital medications
• Trauma counselling, therapy and group meetings
• Pastoral care, discipleship programmes and connections to a local church

Media Enquires:

Images and a video report are available upon request.

To request a media interview with Help The Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef or Help The Persecuted UK Ambassador Tim Osmond

Contact: Peter Wooding, pete@htp.org, +44 7500 903067