Are we witnessing the end of Christianity and the church in Syria? Will the UK, countries across Europe and the USA open their doors to Christians fleeing jihadi violence? These are questions that no one has yet answered.
After experiencing extremist violence for over a decade, an international Catholic charity is rushing to the help of Christians suffering in Syria, asking for prayers while also fundraising for emergency aid in response to the resurgence of violence.
Aid to the Church in Need is set to provide support to Christian schools in Aleppo and medical assistance, food supplies and other emergency aid to the estimated 25,000 Christians remaining in the city captured by Islamist extremists.
Marielle Boutros, ACN project coordinator in Syria, said: “Basic services are paralyzed, with only two hospitals operating for critical cases. “Food supplies are insufficient, prices have soared, and the population faces the dual threat of bombings and insecurity on the ground.”
Ms Boutros added that clergy and religious congregations have decided to stay in Aleppo, and the Church is working tirelessly to assist and console the most vulnerable – but the situation is critical, and residents are increasingly concerned about safety.
She explained: “There is a constant climate of fear. People are trapped – no one can enter or leave the city.”
As the BBC report, the attacks are led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which has a long and involved history in the Syrian conflict.
HTS is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, USA, Turkey and other countries. HTS was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 as a direct affiliate of al-Qaeda.
The leader of the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was also involved in its formation.
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