The Biggest Humanitarian Emergency of our Era

The Syrian refugee crisis began (officially anyway) in April 2011. Since then, so many people have been affected that António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called this the "biggest humanitarian emergency of our era."

A Syrian refugee center on the Turkish border

Estimates by Christian Century show that as many as 13.6 million people have been displaced by what's going on in Iraq and Syria. They say that over 3 million Syrian refugees are in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey alone. Lebanon is a country of 4 million and it has over 1 million registered refugees. That's a lot of people! That's also a lot of resources that is weighing these neighboring countries down.

According to United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 93% of Syrian refugees are living outside of camps and are below the poverty line. Makeshift shelters have been built, jobs have been given, but so much more still needs to be done. However, there is simply not enough resources to do it. In just the UNHCR, funding is only at 51%.

Furthermore, UNICEF reports that by 2014, more than half the refugees fleeing Syria were children. With the borders to some countries closing and other factors, some refugees were forced to cross the Aegean sea, causing many to die. One woman lost her sister, her two-year daughter, and her niece while passing through Galatsi. When asked what she needed, she said, "The only thing I need is a stone with my daughter's name on it for the graveyard."

I can share a lot more. But it should be apparent to everyone that there is a great need for more help. Before anyone worries about national security, Christianity Today (Weber 2016) notes that the refugees reaching western shores represent only 5% of the refugee crisis. This is very little compared to what many countries in the Middle East are facing. The same article quotes an Iraqi pastor saying, "Why are you Christian brothers in the West afraid? We are here on the front lines and are not afraid."

I am reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 25:37-40, "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,f you did it to me.’"

Please, my brothers and sisters. We must show the same compassion that Jesus showed to us. We must start praying fervently for the unprecedented opportunities for evangelism. We must not let indifference overtake us! Rather, let us do as much good as we possibly can.

A way to start getting more involved is through wewelcomerefugees.com.