The latest news from Syria: a round-up

The latest updates from the emerging crisis in northern Syria, and how you can be praying for your brothers and sisters

Thank you for praying for your brothers and sisters in northern Syria.

At least 40,000 Christians are already caught up in the escalating conflict, and Open Doors’ Syria Emergency Appeal opened on 14 October 2019 so that you can give to help our local partners who have been in the region for many years, and are well-placed to offer vital assistance now.

We know that many of you will want to continue praying for your vulnerable family and so we’ve gathered some of the latest news from trustworthy sources, as well as some ways you can pray.

• Nearly 800 relatives of so-called Islamic State (IS) members have escaped from Ain Issa, a camp in north Syria. Fears of a resurgence of IS continue to grow.
• IS has already claimed responsibility for at least two car bomb attacks in Syria since the Turkish incursion started. One was in the northern city of Qamishli and the other was at an international military base outside Hasaka, a regional capital further to the south.
• Genocide Watch has renewed a genocide warning, saying “Kurds, Christians, and Yezidis in north east Syria are at grave risk of genocide by the armies of Turkey and Syria.”
• Aid groups operating in north east Syria are, like Open Doors partners, warning of a significant humanitarian crisis. Doctors Without Borders, Refugees International and Human Rights Watch are among the groups who’ve raised serious concerns about the impact of attacks, people becoming displaced and IS fighters becoming active again.

Please pray

• For protection and safety for those who have fled their homes and those who are considering doing so
• For wisdom and strength for Open Doors partners as they give assistance to vulnerable Christian families in a rapidly changing environment
• That the message of hope in Christ will be spread in Syria, despite obstacles and terrible difficulties.