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From: BF Email News [mailto:subscribe@...]
Sent: 28 July 2006 18:15
To: neil.whitcombe@...
Subject: Urgent need for aid for Christian refugees in Lebanon
This email contains today’s Daily Communiqué from Barnabas Fund’s website.
Recent communiqués have covered the following subjects:
Shift of new Iraqi government to support Hizbullah.
Honour and shame as powerful emotive forces in the Muslim world.
Media quotes on pro-Hizbullah sympathies in the Middle East.
Various views on the Lebanon conflict from around the Muslim world.
Expatriates, including Christians, trapped in Lebanon.
The Christians of Lebanon and how the fighting is affecting them.
Background to the fighting in Lebanon.
To see these communiqués click this link
http://www.barnabasfund.org/archivenews/country.php?news_country=DAILY%20COM
MUNIQUÉ
Urgent need for aid for Christian refugees in Lebanon
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Media reports indicate that some 800,000 people have been displaced due to
the current fighting in Lebanon. Most are internally displaced, some 200,000
have found refuge in Syria, and a very few have managed to flee to Cyprus
and further afield.
Reports from Lebanon show a desperate situation as the displaced lack the
most basic needs. The authorities do not seem to be able to cope with the
crisis, and were seemingly organisationally and mentally unprepared for it.
They clamour for help from international agencies like the UN and Western
governments and NGOs. Of course getting aid into the south where the
fighting still goes on is very difficult.
Christians in need, but also helping
Among the displaced are also many Christians who had to leave the areas
where the fighting and bombing are most intense. Many have had their homes
and possessions destroyed and loved ones killed. Some have been directly
affected by air-strikes. One Christian leader known to Barnabas Fund had his
house badly damaged.
Many Lebanese Christians are heartbroken by the devastation they now see
around them, especially in places like south Lebanon, Tyre and southern
Beirut. It is difficult for them to understand why God allows it. Some see
the situation in Biblical terms of destruction, as one Christian wrote,
slightly amending a Bible verse:
'“Our country is desolate, our cities are burned with fire; our land,
strangers devour it in our presence . . .” (Isaiah 1:7). These are the
scenes in our Lebanon today: death, destruction, desolation and smoke . . .
. desperate cries echoing through the streets where the homeless and weary
are left to wander . . . loud lamentation of women and children over their
loved ones whose remnants are left under the ruins of buildings and home.
The current disaster places the Lebanese believers at a crossroads: Either
we willingly work to lift up the weak and the weary, endangering our lives
to save others, or we can chose to run and hide, hunkering down until this
tornado passes by.'
We are encouraged by the many Christians who have not given in to the
temptations of nursing feelings of hatred and revenge, or of seeking to find
someone to blame, but are following Christ’s example of engaging in loving
practical helping and serving of those in dire need around them.
Our Syrian partner records the boldness of one Christian family deciding to
stay in the danger zone to help those in need:
'Another Christian family from the south, near Marj ‘Ayoun, after repeated
attacks by Israeli troops, jets and rockets, lost its possessions and was
urged to leave the area, but because of their faith, the husband and family
stayed faithful and remained there till this date, and he said on the phone
to us: “by our stay, we have to make a difference by being different from
the others, all our surroundings are our field to help, witness and support
them while passing this catastrophic period of time”. We’ve encouraged them
to come over avoiding unexpected attacks from the enemy, but he replied: “I
should stay with my people and congregation” – he pastors a church – “and
they need my presence”.'
He also related the story of a refugee family from south Lebanon who made it
to Syria:
'Today three Christian families contacted us coming over from Gana in the
south which has been heavily attacked in the last six days. They travelled
from Gana to Aleppo via Tartus. They couldn’t sleep over the last six days
from the continuous attacks and bombing.'
Local partners best set to help
As Christians we are called upon to help especially our suffering and needy
brothers and sisters. This is an emergency situation and we have responded
immediately with practical aid through Barnabas Fund’s Lebanese and Syrian
Christian partners who are doing an excellent job on the ground. Aid via
local partners is the fastest and most effective method of help. The UN and
large international aid agencies face difficulties getting their supplies to
the neediest areas. Local Christian groups on the ground are already in
place and have the motivation to assist brothers and sisters in need. They
are desperate however for more resources.
Barnabas aid to date
Barnabas Fund has so far sent £10,000 to help 100 Christian refugee families
in Lebanon and another £5,000 to help those in Syria.
• Beneficiaries are Christian families who have been displaced as a result
of the current war situation which Lebanon found itself in over ten days
ago. The funds provided these families with such basic needs as food, water,
medicine and hygiene products.
• Barnabas Fund’s timely grant, along with others, also enabled the
provision of support for a number of families who have lost their source of
income due to the current conflict.
Urgent plea for your help
The need is huge and escalating. The actual cost of supporting these
families was higher than anticipated as their needs are so great. It appears
that the conflict is not going to end soon, so more support is urgently
needed.
We appreciate your donations for Christian refugees from the Lebanon
conflict. Please click this link https://secure.barnabasfund.org to donate
online using our secure server. Please quote project reference 27-631 when
sending your gift.
If you prefer to telephone, dial one of our national offices:
Australia 07 3806 1076
New Zealand (9) 368 1071 or 0800 008 805
UK 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK.
USA (703) 288-1681
(Please quote project reference 27-631 when you send your gift.)
If you prefer to send a cheque by post, click this link
http://www.barnabasfund.org/otherwaystodonate.htm for addresses of our
regional offices and to print a donation page. (Please quote project
reference 27-631 when you send your gift.)
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International Website: www.barnabasfund.org
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