Syria (MNN) — Ten United Nations trucks carrying relief aid finally reached northwest Syria on Friday, four months after historic earthquakes rocked the region.
This was the first aid convoy to cross from government territory into a rebel-held enclave since January. Aid deliveries quickly became a political pawn after the disaster.
February earthquakes added another layer of calamity to Syria’s 13-year crisis. Millions displaced by war found themselves homeless yet again.
Samuel* with Redemptive Stories says the Syrian war is on hold – for now.
“The situation seems pretty stable ever since the earthquake; [an] understood ceasefire has held for the most part since February,” he says.
The UN reports that over 15 million Syrians need help to survive today, and an estimated 8.8 million people have been affected by the February earthquakes.
Thousands of earthquake survivors may have a roof over their heads, but their hearts remain unsettled. Every new tremor triggers a flashback, and no one knows when the earth will stop moving.
“The aftershocks could continue for another period of time; months, in fact,” Samuel says.
“Earthquake realities are still quite fresh for a lot of people, particularly on the side of trauma.”
The global Body of Christ continues to offer help and hope. “In general, the response has been great from a lot of organizations; a lot of them are evangelical organizations and churches,” Samuel says.
Syrian Christians have been helping earthquake survivors from day one. Believers tell people about God’s love and truth; their consistent presence shows it’s real.
“Our friends there locally are responding both in practical love and spiritual communication of what the Gospel is,” Samuel says.
“God is using, as He always does, the brokenness to carry forth His story.”
*Pseudonym
Header image depicts damages immediately following the February earthquakes. Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran.
