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Syria: Conditions for Christians in Aleppo Continue to Deteriorate

  • Religion Today Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Jun 18, 2013

After the opposition fighters in Syria in the beginning of June lost their stronghold in the city of Al Qusayr, many in Aleppo fear that this biggest city of Syria will be the next battlefield, World Watch Monitor reports. "Aleppo is under siege by gangs and fanatic rebels," an Open Doors USA contact says. Churches partnering with Open Doors continue to help the neediest people in the city, but face challenges in supplying the internally displaced people and the needy families of their congregations with food. Samir, a volunteer in a church in Aleppo, explains: "There are times that the opposition fighters are not allowing food or vegetables to enter the parts of the city where the government forces are ruling. They only let food pass when taxes are paid. This means an extreme rise of the prices of food and the daily needs of the people." Open Doors contact Samuel adds: "The situation doesn’t improve. People talk a lot about the war and expect more war is coming." He says that Christians "are not in a good mood. We pray for a solution, but it seems it is going to be very bad. People are afraid. Especially now the head of church isn’t here; there is still no news about our kidnapped bishop. People want to leave, but there is no way out. People are afraid of being kidnapped when they think of leaving the city by car or bus."