In Lebanon, Najwa al-Jassem struggles to feed her children and pay rent for a tent in a Syrian refugee camp. She used to receive rations for most of their modest expenses. But those have dried up. Today, support for Syrians like al-Jassem—and Syria’s ongoing crisis—is waning.
Syria’s uprising-turned-civil-war has entered its 13th year. Early in the conflict, the terrorist Islamic State group moved in. That takeover threatened the health and safety of the Syrian people.
Frightened citizens fled to neighboring countries, mostly Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. Those nations weren’t prepared to accept the refugee onslaught. Still, governments and communities worked to meet the needs of the millions of displaced and traumatized Syrians.
But the crisis didn’t end.
In February, a deadly earthquake (on upload, link these words to entry 2/8/23 News Byte: Quake Toll) rocked large swaths of Syria. It destroyed homes and hospitals and further crippled Syria’s poor power and water infrastructures.
Anti-refugee bias has soared: In Turkey, social media rumors swirled about Syrians stealing earthquake aid packages. Lebanese officials blamed the country’s economic crisis on refugees and imposed curfews and restricted home rentals to refugees.
Currently, Syrians who remain in their war-torn country—and about 5.7 million refugees living elsewhere—need funds to survive. Fundraisers hope to raise $11.2 billion for Syrians this year but doubt that will happen. Food programs are cutting aid to almost half of those who were receiving assistance.
As the Syrian refugees’ outlook deteriorates, host countries seem less willing to help. It’s a potentially lethal cycle: The situation worsens; aid dwindles.
Turkey’s government once welcomed Syrians with compassion. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now threatens to return millions of refugees.
Some experts think people have simply grown weary while doing good. Psychologists call the phenomenon “compassion fatigue.” It involves a reluctance to respond to others’ needs. Reasons can include strained resources or prolonged exposure to suffering. In other words, if you’re struggling with money and someone keeps asking for help, you may eventually feel emotionally and financially exhausted by their pleas. In turn, you may begin to block out their appeals.
Thankfully, God knows our frame. He knows our limits. But Jesus never succumbs to compassion fatigue. Instead, He seeks those in need and He is able to provide all that we might ever ask or imagine.
In their refugee camp, al-Jassem’s family struggles with mounting debts. But she’s most worried about the children.
“The kids sometimes go to school without having breakfast,” she explains. “It’s because I have nothing in the pantry.”
Why? Awareness of global suffering can increase gratitude and encourage action.
Pray for the serious situation in Syria and those suffering because of it. And pray God will use all His people to share in the needs of others without becoming fatigued or annoyed.
