“It’s a sad time in history when it’s recognized that there are currently more than 60 million refugees,” says Edmonds.

While news feeds are filled with stories of those fleeing to seek sanctuary in other countries, refugees are not simply people who crossed a boundary, fled to a different nation, or entered a new culture.

Edmonds shares, “There are tribal groups and ethnic groups who are exiles in their own countries. Many are internally displaced due to conflict or crisis. People find themselves displaced, find themselves moving into a place where they don’t have stability.”

(Image courtesy of Food for the Hungry)

Food for the Hungry has been involved in providing Christ-centered care for Syrian refugees for five years. In addition, they work with South Sudanese refugees who are displaced in their own country as well as Uganda and Kenya, and with Burundi refugees who have fled to Rwanda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“When working with a displaced people population, we know stability is a primary issue, so providing food security is one of the first things that is done,” says Edmonds.

“But another issue that is often overlooked or neglected is the reality that the children of these families are in a state of crisis. We’ll help set up schools in the context of a refugee population. If the children don’t have food security, if they don’t have an education, that becomes actually a breeding ground for the radicalization of children.”

For most, living as a refugee is not a short-term issue, so Food for the Hungry provides much of the same training it does to developing communities in third-world countries.

“We literally are helping to train people on livelihoods; how to provide for themselves where they create their own kind of village and village economy.”

One thing that’s decidedly different between refugee communities and those living in areas of extreme poverty is the desires of the people themselves.

“Every time I’m with refugees, the overwhelming wish is, ‘I want to return home. I want to go home.’ We want them to have the skills and abilities to actually go back to where they had come from.”

(Image courtesy of Food for the Hungry)

When that return happens is an unknown for most living in a refugee context.

Edmonds reflects, “When I think about things from a Biblical context, the nation of Israel was in exile for 70 years. But then the doors were opened for restoration. Because of that, I know it’s possible, and I know it happens. And until it does, our responsibility is to partner with local organizations and ministries to continue to provide care for those currently in exile.”

This World Refugee Day, get involved in praying for and tangibly supporting refugees in crisis around the globe. Edmonds says one of the most powerful ways individuals can get involved is by donating to Food for the Hungry’s crisis relief efforts.

“And I encourage people to get involved in their own communities. You have refugees, you have displaced people. Get involved in caring for them – get your church involved. Help refugees, strengthen them.”

Edmonds pauses, and then continues. “I say this carefully but with all sincerity – please pray. God tells us to care for the aliens, and the aliens are refugees, displaced people. Let’s not become hardened to these people, let’s learn to reach out and love and care for them as I believe God would want us to do.”

Over the weekend, UN chief Ban Ki-moon offered three suggestions for a new peacekeeping mission in Burundi:

• Sending in a force of up to 3,000 UN police officers – this choice would offer the most protection to civilians, but would be a logistical nightmare.
• Sending in 228 officers – these officials would act as an “early warning” system, but offer no protection to civilians.
• Sending in a small group of 20 – 50 officers — this group would work alongside the Burundi police force and “help bring about concrete and measurable improvements in the respect for human rights and rule of law.”

(Photo courtesy FH)

Violence that’s been largely ignored by the international community has Burundi on a knife’s edge. Triggered a year ago by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s power grab, chaos has engulfed the central African nation.

“Larger numbers [of people] now are fleeing Burundi into Tanzania, Kenya and some others…Uganda, as well,” says Tent Schools International’s Dale Dieleman.

Kidnappings, torture, and sexual violence are commonplace. “Blood flows everywhere in Burundi, that’s how things are,” one Burundi refugee recently told The Guardian.

An estimated 400 people have been killed, and 250,000 have fled to neighboring countries. But, even there, Burundi refugees are not safe. According to recent reports, attackers are following their targets across borders and pursuing them into refugee camps.

Tent Schools is working with national believers to offer the hope of Christ to scared and desperate Burundi refugees.

Helping Burundi refugees in Tanzania

Tent Schools is partnering with a ministry working in a couple of refugee camps in Tanzania, Dieleman shares. At this point, they’re doing basic assistance.

The bigger issue is that “The international community is not giving as much toward even meeting those financial goals. Education, for example, is way, way, way, way down the line and is not receiving any, or very little, attention.”

As explained here, Burundi refugees are likely to carry that status long-term. This reality gives Tent Schools — with its focus on providing displaced kids with Christ-centered education — a new and urgent need to meet.

“This is a serious and likely long-term displacement,” said International Rescue Committee head, David Miliband, of the Burundi crisis.

“I think we have got to prepare for the worst, which is a multi-year crisis, with people still coming.”

(Photo courtesy Tent Schools International)

Working alongside their partners in Tanzania, Tent Schools will help Burundi refugees “get back into a routine concerning their continuing education.”

Help Tent Schools provide education to Burundi refugees.