Episcopal Relief & Development Responds to the Refugee Crisis in Syria

NEW YORK: Episcopal Relief & Development is working with the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC) to respond to the needs of people displaced by the ongoing unrest in Syria.

This FMEEC partnership will provide blankets, clothing, stoves and fuel during the harsh winter months to 2,850 people newly displaced who are living in the Aleppo, Homs and Hama governorates. Aleppo and Homs have been the center of the conflict. Many homes and buildings have been destroyed and people don’t have access to basic services.

With the crisis in its seventh year, Syrians struggle with basic needs, including food, shelter and medicine. Approximately six million people have been displaced and uprooted from their homes in Syria with over five million seeking refuge outside of the country.

“We are are thankful for our partnership with FMEEC, an organization that is particularly knowledgeable and well connected in Syria, during this humanitarian crisis,” said Rob Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development. “After recently visiting the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf outreach centers in Za’atari and Azraq in Jordan and witnessing the impact of displacement, I am grateful to our partners for providing a compassionate and critical response for those uprooted from their homes and who face an uncertain future.”

Episcopal Relief & Development continues to respond to the current crisis by partnering with organizations that provide vital services for people displaced in Syria and those seeking refuge in other countries.

Since 2015, Episcopal Relief & Development has supported FMEEC in caring for people displaced by the crisis. FMEEC is an association of the Evangelical (Protestant) churches of the Middle East, whose members include the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt, Iran, Sudan and Jerusalem. FMEEC’s volunteer network of church youth and local coordinators serve in different logistical roles in target areas and have assisted communities since 2011.

“We’re seeing Syrians who fled their homes or were living in refugee camps begin to return to their original communities,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Programme Officer for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction with Episcopal Relief & Development. “They face poverty, malnutrition and a loss of income. Children, women, the elderly and the disabled are particularly vulnerable. Many rely on relief aid for the basic necessities. The crisis is still ongoing.”

To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development, visit episcopalrelief.org.

For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has served as a compassionate response to human suffering in the world. The agency works with more than 3 million people in nearly 40 countries worldwide to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through multi-sector programs, using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, it works closely with Anglican Communion and ecumenical partners to help communities create long-term development strategies and rebuild after disasters.

For press inquiries and more information, please contact Malaika Kamunanwire.