Southern Baptists help displaced Iraqi families by providing survival supplies

While the world’s attention has been focused on the plight of Iraq’s suffering Yazidi community, Baptist Global Response (BGR) humanitarian partners have been working in other parts of the country among some 250,000 other displaced Iraqis.

Those efforts focused on providing survival supplies to new arrivals and helping displaced families launch businesses that can provide for their long-term needs. 

The same partners have helped an earlier group of refugees begin developing small businesses that will support their families and, as loans are repaid, help even more displaced families in turn.

Primary funding for these projects came through Global Hunger Relief (GHR), the Southern Baptist channel for combatting hunger in North America and overseas. GHR funnels 100 percent of each donation to the hunger need. In this case, the two projects received a total of $55,500 from GHR.

The displaced families represented the range of northern Iraq’s residents who would rather flee than submit to radical Islamist rule, including many Christians. Some observers believe northern Iraq’s ancient Christian communities are on the verge of extinction.

‘Midst of great trial’

“This season of turmoil has seen the Christian population of Iraq dwindle significantly and the survivability of those who remain become uncertain at best,” said Jeff Palmer, executive director of BGR. “This deepening crisis gives Christians worldwide the opportunity to stand by their embattled brothers and sisters in the faith, as well as to demonstrate the mercy of Christ to others who need to experience the love of God in the midst of great trial.”

The multitude of displaced families had overwhelmed already strained job markets, said the BGR partner directing the relief operation. 

“We have seen substantial needs for employment and sustainable income for these families,” the partner said. “Dependable income from self-replicating sources is the answer for these families developing sufficiency.”

Two micro-businesses were launched as test cases, and the lessons learned with those two would help launch another 50 small businesses over a two-year period, the partner said. Proven business possibilities include shoe repair, transport of groceries or vegetables, and sales of tea, coffee, candy or fish.

Families receiving the first round of micro-loans would receive guidance, direction and supervision in growing their businesses, the partner said. Repaid loans would help other families launch businesses as well. Local government officials and Iraqi church leaders affirmed and encouraged the effort.

Need for prayer

Chaos in the area has put the small business initiative on hold for the time being, the partner said. 

Palmer said prayer is needed that peace would return to Iraq.

“The situation in Iraq is very volatile, and great uncertainty hangs over the country’s future,” he said. “Please pray for peace so our partners can re-engage the small business effort. Ask God to make His great love known to every Iraqi heart that is searching for peace.”

(BP)

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Action urged in Iraq

Russell D. Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has joined a group calling for the United States and other countries to support decisive military action to incapacitate extremist Islamic forces conducting genocide in Iraq. The open letter on the topic was released Aug. 11. (BP)