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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Israeli authorities ask Christians in Jerusalem to help care for Sudanese refugees

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

JERUSALEM , ISRAEL (ANS) -- Israeli humanitarian authorities have brought to the attention of Christians in Israel the urgent need concerning Sudanese refugees entering Israel and have asked for their immediate assistance.
Sudanese mother and child trying to escape genocide in Darfur by fleeing to Israel.

Late Thursday evening, June 14, a group of 31 Sudanese Christians (17 children, 14 adults) with UN refugee status entered Israel near Eilat with assistance from local Bedouins. They are staying in Bedoiun tents for the weekend.

On Sunday, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has been asked by Israeli authorities to assume responsibility over their housing and care for two weeks, until they can be accommodated among several Israeli kibbutzim.

Malcolm Hedding of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
"Today, we committed to meeting this request without the funds in hand, out of a sense of compassion for fellow Christians and because the radical Islamic Movement in Israel was also offering to take custody of them," said Malcolm Hedding, Executive Director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

"The costs of this emergency relief effort will be US$20,000, including desperately needed medical care, which we are appealing to you to help us cover," Hedding said.

He added: "An increasing number of Sudanese refugees fleeing Darfur and other conflict zones have been entering Israel through Egypt in recent weeks. Due to their UN refugee status, Israel is obligated to care for them."

Hedding stated the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was already preparing to launch a new aid project to help Israel handle this influx of Sudanese refugees fleeing the genocide campaign of the Islamist regime in Khartoum. "We have little choice now but to turn to our worldwide family of supporters and friends and rely on the generous hearts of God's people."

To make an on-line donation on the ICEJ secured server, please click here https://www.icej.org/donate.php  and mark your gift as "Operation Hope: Help Sudanese Refugees in Israel" in the appropriate box.

"May the Lord bless you for responding to this urgent need!" Hedding said.

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
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