ICC Note: Pastor ‘Alim’ of Aleppo, Syria has joined with his church to help over 2,000 families living in the urban war zone. Half of those families are Muslim. Aleppo is under daily airstrikes and bombings from both government and rebel forces. The once prosperous city has suffered greatly in the almost six years of civil war. The congregations of Aleppo have managed to become a safe haven for families in need, providing food, shelter and water for those with no access to these necessities.

11/10/2016 Syria (WWM): Aleppo, Syria’s largest city before the country’s raging war, is in the grip of continuous violence. East Aleppo is bombed almost daily by Syrian and Russian air forces; its west is frequently shelled by the rebels from the east.

Only a small number of the more than 200,000 ‘pre-war’ Christians remain in the city: some church leaders say it’s only 20,000 to 40,000. One of them is Pastor “Alim” (his name for security reasons). His congregation is helping up to 2,000 needy families each month – Muslims and Christians – through a team of motivated people.

“The situation in Aleppo has been unstable for a long time now. Ceasefires only last for a short time. As soon as the people catch breath, the fighting starts again.”

His city is divided; he is in the part controlled by the government. “Many women and children from the other part have come to our area. Our church is able to help a total of 2,000 families; I think half of them are Muslims.”

Alim’s church offers food and other necessities. “We help some of them pay their rent and offer towards their medical needs. Our church has dug a well to provide clean drinking water,” he adds.

War is an ever present reality. “The other day, as we finished our meeting on Friday, a bomb exploded next to the church, killing a young girl and her brother. On Sunday, when we were getting ready for church, bombs exploded around our house,” said Alim.

September saw a lull in fighting. People started to prepare for school.

Then the bombing started again. “I couldn’t send my children to school. We had high expectations of a ceasefire, but they didn’t last. People get really depressed; they feel there is no hope.”

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