The Syrian Refugee Crisis

When I was in Jordan earlier this month, I felt perfectlysafe. People welcomed Americans everywhere we went, and they expressedgratitude for all we have done to help. One afternoon our group of tenjournalists passed Mafraq, where a second refugee camp had just opened at theSyria/Jordan border. Our guide, a Christian, explained that Jordanians have leftthe borders open to welcome refugees, most of whom are Muslims. “They are ourbrothers and our sisters and our cousins,” he said.

Later, I had the opportunity to interview a JordanianChristian leader about the Syrian situation, and here’s what he had to say.

What started theSyrian crisis?

After the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring triggeredby the incident in Tunisia,work for change became contagious in the region. As a result we had demonstrationsin Cairo and Yemen and other parts of the Arab world. People needed a change.But when they fled Syria, twenty thousand refugees came to Jordan. At firstthey came to stay with friends and relatives. But when the conflict escalated, theyfled their homeland, crossing barbed wire fences with the help of the Jordanianarmed forces.  

When they cross into Jordan, borderguards receive them and take them to a camp, where they are furnished with a tent, food, andwater. This effort has been organized and administered by the Jordaniangovernment with help from the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, UNHCR (the UN refugeeagency), UNICEF, the World Food Organization, the Mennonite Central Committee, andmany humanitarian NGOs.  

In the camps you find men, but 75 percent of the occupantsare women and children. And what they need now is houses. There is a plan inplace to provide mobile homes—which refugees could take back to Syria when theyreturn. But each costs about $30,000. The plan is to arrange every family in acaravan, to provide shelter. Four or five such caravans are placed in a U-shapefor security, and the mobile-home shelters protect them. With autumn ahead, itwill be cold out there. Whoever can givea hand is encouraged to do so.

These people are in trauma. So we need all kinds of care forthe suffering—medical, psychological, and spiritual. Though they find a tent,they are displaced humans.

Jordan has a shortage of water, and the governmentsubsidizes gasoline. So the refugees are draining these resources, but weconsider them our brothers and sisters. So Jordanians are encouraged to supportthem. Before the end of the year, we expect to have 250,000 [others estimate 350,000] refugees. But wehope the problem is solved by the end of the year.

It is dangerous for the refugees to stay--and not just a dangerto the hosting country, but to the Syrians themselves. It is a burden on theeconomy and resources, yes. But also when you welcome so many, you cannot checkcarefully who is coming in. So the security threat is there too. This happenswith any influx of refugees.

One obstacle is arms. We believe it’s important to stopsending arms to both parties in Syria, both the regime and the Syrian freearmy. All decision-makers in this world must come together to find a solution,or it will set this region on fire. People are suffering due to the lack of solution. The UN andthe Arab League failed to find a solution. Problems are not going to be solvedin a few weeks.  

What do you wish the Westknew about this?

It is very important to send a message that in this regionpeace is needed. Stop the bloodshed on account of the innocent people.

In terms of Christians in the West wishing to protect ArabChristians as part of Syrian society, it would be better not to deal withChristians as an isolated group. Instead we need to set the floor here forhuman rights, for equal citizenship for all. This is where we protect allsegments of society. Our friends and allies in the US should realize religionshould be respected, but not used in the political game. We want equality andjustice for all people regardless of race, religion, and gender, especially inthis part of the world. This is how we guarantee the good for all people.

If the church wants to help, what is best?

The churches here have limitedresources, but they have reached out. The volume of the problem is beyond whatlocal churches can handle. So we need prayers and love. Visit Jordan—bring yourtourist dollars to our economy. And a contribution in any amount helps.

When the Iraqi refugees came in 2005, an American came to myoffice and told me she wanted a way to help them. After sharing Turkish coffee,we became partners. She gave me $75 of cookie money from some Brownies in Massachusetts.I have a photo of my Board of five Brownies who gave that $75. When I was inthe States, I drove up to the Deerfield area and reported to my Board of fiveBrownies. With their “seed money,” we started an informal school for Iraqistudents. At the time those kids were barred from attending Jordanian schools. Sowe opened with three rooms. Later the government voted to allow Iraqi childrenin Jordan’s public schools, so we closed our school. So you see, even $75 madea difference.

Now I want to start a program to help traumatized women andchildren… we share our faith by showing our love.

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Since my return to the States, thousands of refugees havecontinued to pour into Jordan. Organizations such as CARE and those mentioned above are doing what they can to bring healing to thosetraumatized—especially children. The Syrians have witnessed schools beingdestroyed, homes demolished, and horrific brutality. Their worlds have been turned upsidedown. They need financial help and they need our prayers.  

Spread the word.