GENEROUS AUSTRALIANS HELP SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES BY BAPTIST WORLD AID AUSTRALIA
Without heating, and living in flimsy shelters, Syrian refugee families are at risk of freezing during the cold winter months. Next month, the conflict in Syria will enter its ninth year. “It is a protracted crisis,” explains Baptist World Aid Australia’s Director of International Programs, Dan Skehan. “Meaning, its effects are drawn out and have been felt by families over a prolonged period.” Baptist World Aid has been responding for many years. “Because of the nature of the crisis, the need has been constant,” says Mr Skehan. “And
28 FEB/MAR 20 QB.ORG.AU
we’ve partnered with several organisations in the Middle East region in that time, thanks to the generosity of our Australian supporters.” The Lebanese Baptist convention – LSESD’s development arm Merath has been responding to this disaster since it began 9 years ago. In that time, they have served tens of thousands of Syrian and Lebanese communities that have been affected by the conflict in the region. “Lebanon has one of the highest proportions of refugees per capita in the world,” says Mr Skehan. “Around one in every four people
is a refugee, and closer to the Syrian border this ratio can be even higher. “So, the populations of some areas have quite literally doubled as a result of the ongoing crisis in Syria.” Syrian refugee families are unable to work and gain legitimate income and their children are unable to access education. And this is a gap which Baptist World Aid supporters are helping to fill. “Baptist World Aid supporters fund work, through our Baptist partners on the ground to provide things like healthcare, informal education and food assistance,” says Mr Skehan.
Photo credit: Daniel C White
