Field Report: the Israel-Hamas Conflict

April 23, 2024

Emily Klooster

Our goals:

Christian leaders pursue our mission at a personal cost

Here is a glimpse of the work of Tent Schools International through a different lens: the lived experiences of our partners in the Middle East as they work amidst political conflict. These are the Christian leaders who pursue our mission, often at great personal cost.

LEBANON: WARM HEART SCHOOL

Submitted by: Joseph Milan
Role: Pastor and co-founder
Partner: Warm Heart Lebanon
Serving: Syrian refugees
Location: Bekaa Valley

Lebanon is bordered by Syria to the northeast and Israel to the south. It is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the Asian continent and second only to Turkey as a host nation for Syrian refugees.

Lebanon is at war. The Israel-Hamas war is only 1.5 hours away from us here in Beirut. There are no more tourists, no more work, and the schools are closing. The conflict is spreading and getting stronger. There are new taxes and everything is expensive.

I am asked daily [by Syrians] for help, and I’m overwhelmed with the needs. I pray, “God, how can I answer all of this need?” But I cannot close my heart to them.

In our ministry to Syrian students, we are using biblical curriculum; we talk about the New Testament and Jesus Christ. They are like family to us, and I miss them when I don’t see them.

The secret police in Lebanon are putting a lot of pressure on us because they don’t want us to support Syrians anymore, but Syrians have nowhere to go, and we feel pressure from Europe to keep them in Lebanon. Most Lebanese resent this. But I have a calling [to help] Syrians. I won’t leave Lebanon unless God changes my mission.

– Joseph

JORDAN: MARKA EDUCATION CENTER

Submitted by: Haytham Mazareh
Role: Pastor and founder
Partner: Sense of Community
Serving: Displaced Iraqis
Location: Amman

Jordan is home to the largest number of Palestinian refugees in the world. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, and Israel to the west. The West Bank adjoins Jordan’s western border.

Jordan is very affected by the war. We have increasing prices due to delays in Red Sea shipping. Jordan imports 98% of our products, and now we can’t do that. It’s so discouraging.

American businesses are not being supported by Palestinian customers, but these businesses employ Jordanians. People are hungry because they’ve lost their jobs.

Since 2015, we have had waves of refugees in Jordan. One of these has been Iraqis. Our Iraqi students told us they were depressed when school was not in session, so now we have school year-round.

We offer more than formal education. Iraqis cannot work in Jordan, so we give them dignity, tools, materials, and training. Parents have become professionals and we sell their products to support their families and the school. There is spiritual growth in their children, too. Kids are leaders and servants in the church. I am so grateful to see them grow in faith.

– Haytham

Refugee Stats:

There are 110 million forcibly displaced people worldwide due to persecution, conflict, and human rights violations.
Nearly half of all displaced people are children, and almost half of those children are not in school.
52% of all displaced people are from three countries: Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
75% of refugees are hosted in low and middle-income countries, many in the Middle East.

Source: UNHCR 2023