When the terrible violence erupted in Israel and Gaza in October last year, I was genuinely appalled and saddened. At the time, I wrote a prayer pleading for God’s protection of the innocent and urging Anglican Aid supporters to pray. Now, one year on, I continue to grieve over this devastating conflict, which has now also spread to Lebanon.  

As this conflict continues to escalate, Anglican Aid supporters may understandably want to give to provide aid to those who have been caught up in the crossfire. However, at this stage we are not launching an emergency appeal for Lebanon (or for Israel and Gaza), for two main reasons:

Confidence in our channels   

When considering a humanitarian emergency response, Anglican Aid seeks to work with existing, trusted partners. Usually, our aid programs are delivered by those we’ve partnered with before, perhaps as part of a long-term development project.  

This is a significant consideration in the case of the current Middle East crisis, due to the increased chance of aid being stolen, destroyed, or misused. Anglican Aid always carefully checks that the help we send will be used for its intended purpose. This is why having a trusted partner on the ground is so important.  

Anglican Aid does not currently have any long-term projects in Israel or Gaza. We do have a long-term partner in Lebanon, Good Shepherd School, which provides free education to Syrian refugee children. The school is based in the north of Lebanon, and most airstrikes have currently been targeting the southern part of the country. However, our partners Emil and Reem Bourizk, the directors of the school, have asked for prayer after 28 people, including some Christians, were killed in a recent lone airstrike in their area. Please pray for the continued safety of the Bourizk family, the staff and students of Good Shepherd School, and of their wider (predominantly Christian) community. They have also asked for prayer for wisdom as they seek to support several families of displaced people who have fled from the south.

We are communicating frequently with Emil and Reem and will continue to provide updates on their situation. We greatly value your prayers and support. 

Remembering the forgotten  

We focus our efforts on places that the media and other international organisations sometimes overlook – especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, in this region, an estimated 32.5 million people have been internally displaced due to various conflicts. This is more than the population of Australia and New Zealand combined. 10.5 million of these are in Sudan alone, where 18-months of civil war has led to what the UN has described as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.” 

Conflicts like this are receiving less international attention than the Middle East crisis, because they are taking place in areas already wracked by poverty and insecurity, where it is dangerous for journalists and aid agencies to work. However, the victims of these conflicts are also in dire circumstances, and significant humanitarian assistance is urgently required.  

Anglican Aid has long-term, trusted partners in Sudan, Nigeria, Mozambique, and northern Kenya, who are already providing aid to suffering people. For this reason, we are focusing our fundraising efforts on our Forced to Flee Emergency Appeal, which will provide much-needed funds for them to continue to do this. 

I continue to pray for the innocent people in the Middle East, and for all those suffering violence across the globe. Please join me in asking the sovereign Lord to bring peace.  

In Christ,  

Tim Swan 

P.S. As you pray, you may like to use this Prayer for the Middle East, written this month by Archbishop Kanishka Raffel, as well as this Prayer for the Displaced on the Anglican Aid website.