Jordan's small Christian population struggling to help incoming refugees
December 31, 2014
In Jordan, a Christian population already drained by emigration is struggling to support a swarm of incoming refugees, both Christian and Muslim, from Syria and Iraq.
Father Rifat Bader, a pastor in Lebanon, reports that his parish is giving temporary shelter to 40 refugees, who cannot safely return to their homes in Iraq. “Jordan may be safe, but they will not be allowed to remain here,” he tells the international Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need.
Father Bader reports that there are 180,000 Christians now living in Jordan, while another 70,000 have travelled to other country. The Christian population, with very limited resources, is attempting to provide help for incoming refugees, supporting them until they can find permanent homes elsewhere.
Christian relief workers accept Muslim as well as Christian families, Father Bader said. He observed that extremist groups have used the shoddy conditions in refugee camps as a means of fanning resentments and recruiting new members, and “we must not leave them a clear field.”
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