Subject:
Armed Groups in Saddad
Dear Friends,
I write today with a heavy heart and
news from Syria.
Since the beginning of the conflict,
the small towns of Saddad and Haffar village have been a place of refuge for
4,500 families, most of whom are internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Historically Christian villages, both communities have lived in peace with
their Muslim neighbors for decades.
Early in the conflict the permanent
residents of Saddad and Haffar engaged in the organization and provision of
assistance to families who were forced to flee their homes in other areas of
Syria. Since the arrival of the displaced, the populations, Muslim and
Christian, have lived in harmony as they together face the strain and stress of
the conflict surrounding them.
On the morning of the 21st
of October 2013 the situation took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Beginning around 6 a.m., roughly
sixty armed vehicles began to enter Saddad. As the vehicles and armed personnel
made their way through the streets, the shouting of “Allah Akbar” and the
touting of the Quran made it clear to both permanent and displaced that their
time of relative tranquility was quickly coming to an end. As the armed groups
began to set up sniper posts and a campaign of shelling, the day moved from bad
to worse.
From what we can tell, the militias
who have taken up positions in Haffar and Saddad are mostly members of the
Nursa Front (the Al-Qaeda affiliate). It is suspected that they are using
Haffar and Saddad as a launching point for strikes against a nearby army base
and arsenal.
Up to now, we know a few of our
partners have been killed as a result of the sniper activity and shelling. My
brother, who is in Haffar with his family, told me this morning that several
mortar shells have fallen as a result of the conflict. However, due to the
sniper activity, it is impossible to reach the destroyed sites to search for
those killed and/or wounded.
As I was talking with my brother, I
could hear children crying in fear of the situation. I could hear the faint
sounds of the barrage of mortars and intense fighting raging outside. As I sat
on the phone, I could not but cry with them. Why is it that children have to be
the victims of such a dirty war!
All we can do now is pray for the
safety of the people there, and that they do not become IDPs for the second or
third time. The lives of everyone is our concern and we pray for God’s
protection to all his people.
As the situation continues to
develop, I continue to be in contact with our partners and community leaders in
Haffar, Saddad, and the Kalamoun region. Yet another example of the brutality
and insanity of the Syrian crisis, I hope and pray to God the militants
withdraw quickly from the area. Their use of innocent civilians as cover for
their military campaigns continues to make our hearts ache.
As new developments come to me, I
will pass along the news.
Please continue to have the people
of Haffar and Saddad, as well as the people of Syria, in your thoughts and
prayers. Let us continue to work for an end to violence and wars and the
creation of a lasting peace and security.
Blessings,
**** *******
