Worldwide Displacement
For the first time on record, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide is now more than 100 million. The fact that 1% of the world population is uprooted, is a “stark figure … a record that never should have been set,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
“This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution, and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes,” he said.
The number includes refugees and asylum seekers as well as those who were internally displaced. Among them is a significant number of Christians. Many of the countries that are displacing people are featured on the Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is hardest to live as a Christian.
”Escalating conflict and violence puts additional pressure on Christians and other religious minorities, many of whom already face a breadth of challenges because of their religious identity or activity,” said Eva Brown, a persecution analyst with Open Doors.
“Religious persecution alone, or the combination of many layers of pressure can push a person past the tipping point where they feel they have no option but to flee their home. There are often multiple push factors,” Brown said. “Pressure because of their religious identity can be compounded by ethnic and gender vulnerabilities as well as economic pressure and conflict.”
But refugee camps are not safe places either. An Afghan man, who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, fled his home country many years ago and became a Christian while living in a refugee camp.
Refugee camp in Lebanon
He told an Open Doors’ partner that when the Muslim community in the camp discovered that he had become a Christian, he was threatened and violently attacked. He however continues to share his faith with those around him, and tries to support believers who live under extreme pressure in his home country as well.
Iktimal
Iktimal is a Christian who has been displaced from her home for many years. She had a good life, a house, cars, and sufficient money. Then suddenly, over one day, she lost all of that. She was displaced and depended on other people for everything. This has happened to millions of Syrians over the past 11 years.
“We were living in a village, not far from Idlib. We had a big house and had many olive fields. The harvest of one year gave us enough income to buy two houses. We also had a driving school – we had about 50 cars – we had a cow farm and we produced olive oil. We had a very good life. We had no idea that our stable life would one day end,” said Iktimal.
Ten years ago, armed militia started bombing the area and threatening the people living there.
“They kidnapped us, they wanted money, threatened my husband and my oldest son. They said that they would be taken away and that we would never see them back again. Those threats, those moments with them, were the scariest thing. They really drove us out. One day they killed a cousin of ours, we got so scared that they would kill my husband too. We fled the village. We escaped in the early morning, about 3am, we didn’t want them to see us, otherwise they might kill us.”
Iktimal says that the people in her village were threatened so much because they are Christians. They all eventually attempted to leave the village and about 20 were killed on the journey. “I remember how I looked back at our house, thinking we would never see it again.”
First, they stayed for eight months at the house of one of the sisters of her husband. “We were unable to find a place we could afford to rent.” When the people of one of the Centers of Hope in Latakia saw their situation, they supported the family to find a small house to rent. “They helped us with everything, with mattresses, blankets, pillows, gas. They also gave us a monthly food package, clothes, stationary for the children. When they saw our need, they helped, I never expected that.”
The church and the people of the Center of Hope gave emotional, psychological and spiritual support to Iktimal and her family.
“They prayed with us, they listened to our story, they stood with us. God was with us. He sent those people to stand by us, they were like angels. Their love brought us closer to Jesus, they taught us about the love of God.”
10 years have gone by, but Iktimal still hopes that one day she will get the news that her village is free again. Now it’s still in the hands of extremist groups. “There is no safety there, if we would return now, they would kill us.”
She smiles. “It brought me closer to God. I experienced the love of God as the church stands with us. Please pray for us, that one day soon we might go back.” The family of Iktimal still faces financial struggles.
Please Pray
Please continue to support our work through the centres of Hope in Syria. Without the support of those churches, people like Iktimal wouldn’t be able to survive and stay in their country. You can help displaced families today. Also be in prayer for the thousands of Christians who are displaced all over the world, let them stay strong and be a light where ever they go.
