Today is the third anniversary of the start of Syria conflict. So far it has claimed between 100,000 and 150,000 lives, well over 10,000 of them being children.
Over 9.3 million have fled their homes and the UNHCR say that 2.1 million have gone to Syria's immediate neighbours Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq; about 100,000 have declared asylum in Europe with a small number offered resettlement by countries such as Germany and Sweden.
What's it all about? Below is the BBC's guide to the crisis.
The BBC have produced a page of reports about the crisis too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25217799
We are encouraged to pray and not forget this crisis. TEAR Fund would like people to participate in a prayer vigil even if it is just at home. Materials are at http://www.tearfund.org/en/about_you/pray/prayer_news/syria_candlelit_prayer_vigil_feb2014/
Christians in Syria also need our prayers as they are caught between the two main protagonists, being persecuted by both.. They are crying out for help from Christians around the world.
“We have shouted out to the world, but no-one has listened to us. Where is the Christian conscience? Where is human consciousness? Where are my brothers?"
Archbishop Selwanos of the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Homs and Hama.
Here are three simple ways we could help today:
Firstly by prayer. Open Doors has some good resources as well as the Tearfund ones above.
Secondly we can act. Why not try retweeting the EA's I Support Syria tweet. International campaigns are noticed by politicians.
Thirdly we can give as there is a huge humanitarian crisis. Tearfund is one good agency to send money through. Their Syria Crisis page is here.
