Photos courtesy of LSESD


face dire future


Aleppo. However, mortar shells were still causing loss of life and destruction of property. The presence of snipers led to the closure of streets and businesses as neighborhoods became dangerous to travel and to do business. He himself was turned back as he tried to travel in the vicinities of Sara and Sami close to downtown Aleppo. Kidnappings are also on the rise. In November, two church workers were kidnapped and were released only after ransoms were paid. It is also becoming more expensive to live in


Aleppo, even as people lose their livelihoods. “Prices are going up in a crazy way,” Ajii said, a problem made more difficult by the approaching winter. According to the UN, more than 200,000 people have fled Aleppo, once home to more than two million people, and regarded as Syria’s commercial hub. Since the outbreak of violence in Syria in March


2011, the humanitarian situation has continuously deteriorated. Estimates of deaths in the conflict vary, with figures ranging from 40,000 to 52,545. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, with many seeking safety in nearby countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported at the end of October that the number of Syrian refugees had increased to between 355,000 and 500,000. Millions more are internally displaced. A major problem is access to food. The longer


term forecast for food availability and affordability in Syria looks bleak with the economy continuing to unravel. Those immediately affected by the violence in the hot-spots have lost access to the most basic items and are desperately in need of food supplies. The Baptist Convention of Syria, a BWA member


organization, has approximately 600 members in 10 churches.


A three-wall refugee shelter with sheets for the fourth wall


The Lebanese Society for Educational & Social Development (LSESD), a Lebanon-based Baptist organization, is leading a humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis. Nabil Costa, a BWA vice president, is executive director. The following are excerpts of a report submitted by the LSESD.


The conflict in Syria has raged continuously since March 2011 and is now described by the United Nations as a civil war. The impact on the civilian population has been devastating, overwhelming humanitarian actors within Syria itself and also in neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey, all of which host increasingly high numbers of refugees. From a humanitarian standpoint, the Syrian crisis has led to


enormous human suffering as populations have been displaced within the country by violence (some several times), others have fled across borders seeking refuge, and issues of access to food, shelter, schools, medical care and other services continue to escalate and negatively impact families and individuals. Funding for the crisis is falling short, reaching only 45 percent


of what is needed inside Syria and 35 percent of resources to meet the basic needs of refugees in neighboring countries. This situation is considered “catastrophic” by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA). Unfortunately the forecast is for a long and protracted crisis; at


present there is no end in sight to the immensely complex conflict, nor to the escalating humanitarian needs of the Syrian families – women, men, and children – who are caught in the struggle and suffer its consequences. In response to the escalating humanitarian needs stemming from


the crisis, LSESD is leading a multi-church initiative through partners within Syria, Lebanon and Jordan to assist families and individuals that are negatively impacted by the Syrian conflict. The humanitarian response includes food distribution, medical


care and psychological counseling, rent assistance, and distribution of non-food items including hygiene kits, bedding, and winterization items. As the crisis has evolved, so has LSESD’s response to needs.


Beneficiaries include Christians and those from other faith


backgrounds, and comprise refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, and internally displaced persons within Syria, as well as those still in their homes who are most vulnerable. LSESD’s efforts to build the capacities of the local partners are an integral part of this project, enabling them to effectively serve their communities.


In Syria


The situation grows more worrying and complex as humanitarian needs increase in Syria. Fighting and the cumulative effects of the crisis continue to affect more than 2.5 million people inside the country. The violence has led to the loss of lives of thousands of men, women and children. Countless homes,


continued on next page JANUARY/MARCH 2013 13


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