The Syrian Refugee Crisis Still Needs Your PrayersAndy Freeman - 18 Jun 2014

Although Syria doesn’t always command the news headlines around the world, the conflict and human crisis around it goes on.  

The United Nations estimate that there are more than 2.8 million refugees who have fled to camps in Turkey, Jordan, Iran, Egypt and to Lebanon, where two 24-7 teams will be heading out this summer and where you’ll find one of the largest refugee sites in the world.  

The care of these refugees is the subject of a report by the campaigning group Amnesty International, which is highlighting the health care provision for people in these camps.

Imagine it...  

• a group of people the equivalent to the population of Calgary in Canada or Donetsk in Ukraine moving to another country and living in tents
• the basic human needs that a tented village of one million people (the population of the Lebanon camp) would need. 
• the strain those numbers would place on a country which isn’t rich and has seen it’s fair share of conflict 

This is the reality in Lebanon right now. Amnesty’s report is suggesting that basic health care needs aren’t being met; that the crisis is urgent. This is something that the United Nations has sought to address, asking for $4.2 billion to help - yet to date only a quarter of that amount has been raised. 

Could you remember Syria and it’s people in your prayers once again?
Could you remember the dispersed people around the nations in the area, and the camp in the Lebanon?
Could you pray for international response?  
Maybe you could write to your member of Parliament or Governor or local representative and ask them what they’re doing?  

                                                                    Let’s not forget Syria and it’s people.

                             The following prayer written by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops may help us to pray:

                                                                       Almighty eternal God, source of all compassion,
                                                      the promise of your mercy and saving help fills our hearts with hope.
                                                                                 Hear the cries of the people of Syria;
                                                                     bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
                                                                             and comfort to those mourning the dead.
                                                                           Empower and encourage Syria’s neighbors 
                                                                               in their care and welcome for refugees.
                                                                   Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
                                                                and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace.

                                                                                                           Amen 

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Syrian refugees wave Turkish and Syrian Independence flags', 'A Syrian refugee boy', 'A child walks on top of a tent' and 'Syrian refugees gather at a refugee camp' by Freedom House and 'Syrian refugee children' by mehmet bilgin