Syria (MNN) — The number of refugees fleeing Syria nearly doubled last week.
In Jordan and Turkey, the number of Syrian refugees crossing their borders went from 500 per night to 850 per night.
It’s estimated that by the end of 2012 there will be 185,000 Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
Syrian border guards have successfully blocked off the road to the Jordan border checkpoint. Any Syrians hoping to flee into Jordan often cross through fields at night.
After 16 months, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad still gives no hint of easing his crackdown on government protestors. Assad holds that there are no uprisings in Syria, but merely terrorist attacks on the regime which he is seeking to squelch.
The UN officer commanding monitors in Syria stated last Thursday that violence has reached “unprecedented” levels. Last month, it was estimated by opposition leaders that more than 13,000 Syrians have been killed.
In Lebanon, the number of Syrian refugees receiving aid is around 30,000. But the official refugee number can’t be determined. There are still groups in Lebanon who are loyal to Assad, so many Syrian refugees don’t register at that border either.
In both Jordan and Lebanon, there are no refugee camps set up. However, a good number of Syrians already have family ties in the neighboring countries. Those who don’t have family ties in Jordan or Lebanon often go to houses of worship for help including the Church.
The JESUS Film Project is currently working with other Christian aid organizations, local churches, and national Christian volunteers to pass out aid and "JESUS" film DVDs to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.
Ministry leaders supply refugees with food, clothing, and medicine and build relationships with them. These leaders asked the JESUS Film Project team for DVDs of "JESUS" to pass out to the refugees in sharing the Gospel message.
The JESUS Film team hopes to distribute 50,000 DVDs of "JESUS," "Magdalena: Released From Shame," and "The Story of Jesus for Children." One "JESUS" DVD to a Syrian refugee can be taken back to their host family and played for all in the household.
But they need funds. It takes $50 to distribute 12 evangelistic DVDs.
Help Syrian refugees and their hosts see "JESUS" by clicking here.
