Baptist World Aid Australia

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 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.

“But the most urgent need at the moment is the provision of items that will help Syrian refugee families – many of whom do not have permanent housing – to survive the freezing winter months.”

The Syrian families seeking refuge in Lebanon left their homes under duress. They were fleeing for their lives and, because of this, were carrying very few clothes, blankets, or personal belongings with them.

And now these families, who have survived conflict and violence, are facing a new threat.

“Right now, in Lebanon, temperatures are falling. It can get as low as -5 degrees Celsius and many Syrian refugee families are living in structures which offer little protection from the subzero temperatures,” Mr Skehan says. Without the urgent provision of warm clothes, blankets, and fuel for heating, many of these already vulnerable families are at risk of sickness, and even death, during the cold winter months.

“We’re inviting anyone who’d like to help Syrian refugee families through the winter months, and beyond, to give to the Middle East Crisis Appeal,” says Mr Skehan.

You can donate at baptistworldaid.org.au/middleeast-crisis-appeal or call 1300 789 991.