On February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked southern Türkiye and northern Syria. It would be followed by a magnitude 7.7 aftershock and an estimated 10,000 aftershocks, including 54 with magnitude 4.3 or greater. Almost 60,000 people lost their lives and more than 100,000 people were injured. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed leaving survivors homeless and afraid for the future. In Syria, where the 11-year-long civil war had already taken a harsh toll on families, 10.9 million people – almost half of the population – were impacted by the earthquake, of which an estimated 5.3 million were left homeless.

This crisis has also added to the heartache of Syrian families who sought refuge from the war in neighbouring countries, including Lebanon. Refugee families were left worrying about their loved ones in the earthquake-impacted region, even as they themselves struggled with the challenges of rising food prices and a harsh winter.

World Renew, through our local church partners, has been working in Syria and Lebanon for the past 11 years. With funding from Canadian Foodgrains Bank and generous-hearted donors, World Renew has provided food baskets, winterization kits, and other essentials to families in both countries. Jamila*, a married mother of six, receives food baskets through World Renew. Having enough food for her children is always a concern, but she says, “I believe and trust that God provides. Every single month we wonder how we are going to survive, and yet we do survive.”

Jamila shared about some of the trials her family faced in Syria and about their decision to seek safety in Lebanon, “Before the war we had some land and several houses. We were living well, and we didn’t have to pay any rent because we owned our house. But the lack of security during the war ultimately made us move to Lebanon. Our village was occupied by ISIS at some point, and as a woman, I could never go out alone. If I wanted to go to the supermarket, I needed to take my husband or brother with me. If I was outside alone or with a man, even if he was my brother-in-law, they would kill me and the man. It was very hard for us to leave Syria with everything we had, but ISIS made life impossible there. We were forbidden to wear anything colourful, only black. All my face had to be covered, even my eyes. If a woman would still choose to show her eyes, they would execute her without warning. Men too had restrictions in what clothing they were allowed to wear…Because of all these things, we came to Lebanon.” 

Life in Lebanon may be free of the terrors of the war, but for Syrian refugee families like Jamila’s, those fears have been replaced by the fear of not having enough to meet their basic needs. “Two of our children are at school, but transportation costs alone are becoming increasingly unaffordable. We wish we could travel outside the Middle East, for the kids to have a better future. My son always tells me we are not living like human beings,” Jamila says. 

Thanks to generous-hearted people who support World Renew’s programs in Lebanon, Jamila feels Christ’s love and hope through the food baskets and other essentials they receive from our local church partner. “I had known the church for some time before I asked for their help. I liked to attend their Bible studies and the kids would go when they had special activities for children. When I asked if they could help us, they first visited us to meet with the entire family and see our home. So far, we have been taking two monthly food parcels,” Jamila shares.

The rising cost of basics has put strains on the budgets of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and local people alike. The Lebanese Pound (LBP) has devalued from 1,500 LBP for $1USD, to 90,000+ for $1USD. And it isn’t just food that people cannot afford.

Boghos* is a 60-year-old Lebanese man who used to own a one-dollar store on the main street. Because of the economic crisis, he had to close the business two years ago and has been jobless ever since. He has a lot of health issues. He fell on his head twice and started forgetting things and he needs to wear diapers. But with no income, he could not afford food or diapers. His neighbours tried to help him, but with struggles of their own, they turned to our local church partner for support. Our partner helped Boghos with diapers and he is benefitting from our Canadian Foodgrains Bank-funded food assistance project.  

People in Lebanon need food and non-food support more now than ever before, and that is why it is crucial that World Renew continues working to share Christ’s hope with the most vulnerable families in this region. We need your support so we can continue to walk alongside people impacted by the earthquake, Syrian refugee families struggling to find their footing in Lebanon, and Lebanese families who are also feeling the strains of skyrocketing prices.

In Syria, World Renew’s partners have been working to address the needs of those displaced by the earthquake, providing much-needed food, hygiene, and winterization support to over 43,200 highly vulnerable, crisis-affected individuals. Our partners report, “Their voices overflowed with gratitude for the support received.”  
 
One participant, upon receiving support said, “The instant aid that you sent, very shortly after the devastating earthquake, was a lifeline for the people who had to flee their houses and sought refuge in the fast-established accommodation centres in churches and monasteries. The food and hygiene baskets, in addition to the blankets, provided them with the basic necessities required for survival. The food baskets contained enough nutritious items to feed the families for weeks, and the hygiene kits helped them maintain their health and dignity in these difficult times.”  
 
Thank you for your generosity that has helped us to share Christ’s hope with families like Jamila’s in Lebanon and Syria.

*Names have been changed to protect identities