The United Nations has a definition for protracted crises – it refers to situations in which a significant portion of a population is facing hunger, disease and breakdown of their livelihoods which they are unable to overcome over an extended period of time. The UN also indicates that almost all countries with protracted crises would experience prolonged periods of violence.
When people face endless conflicts and wars, survival becomes their primary goal. They may choose to flee their homes: some will become displaced in their own countries, some will escape to other countries and seek asylum elsewhere as refugees. When these individuals flee from their homes, they often have to face different dangerous situations, pay smuggling fees and risk being betrayed by the people smugglers. During the smuggling process, they often have to face harsh environments, starvation, disease and an unknown fate. Even when they finally arrive in a new country, they often cannot obtain local identity credentials and assistance immediately.
The refugee population continues to rise
According to statistics from the United Nations, at least 82.4 million people around the world were forcibly displaced at the end of 2020, including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and refugees (hereinafter collectively referred to as refugees).
How can we help them?
Although the Bible does not use the word ‘refugees’, it often refers to these people as ‘travellers’ and ‘sojourners’, and they are often listed in the same category as ‘orphans’ and ‘widows’, representing the vulnerable and poor in society. The Lord commanded the Israelites many times to be kind to the foreigners (Zechariah 7:10) and not to oppress them (Malachi 3:5). He also reminded His people that because they had been enslaved and tortured in a foreign land in Egypt and knew the hardships of being foreigners, therefore they should treat the foreigners as their native-born and love them as themselves (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Cedar provides assistance to the long-suffering war refugees and impoverished groups in the Middle East and Myanmar. In addition to carrying out relief work in times of humanitarian crises, we also carry out community development projects in areas with ongoing conflicts, such as Lebanon and Myanmar, to provide long-term assistance to the poor in these war-torn countries.
Child and adolescent development project in Lebanon
Community integral development and refugee resettlement project in Myanmar
We humbly ask you to make a donation to support the poor who have been affected by wars for a long time so that even when they are suffering, they can still feel some warmth and care from us. With the help from the projects funded by you, these individuals will be given a chance to start a new chapter in their lives.
Provide seeds and agricultural training to 3 conflict-affected impoverished villagers to enhance livelihoods and alleviate the food shortage crisis.
Support 20 women to access a psychosocial support group for 4 months, helping them heal from conflict-related trauma.
Provide training for 1 conflict-affected youth to learn peaceful conflict transformation and achieve personal growth.
Support the general medication expenses for a mobile clinic in a conflict-affected zone for 2 months.
Extended Information: Causes of refugee humanitarian crises
Today, the number of displaced people globally is at an all-time high, surpassing the refugee population created by World War II. The causes of the present refugee humanitarian crises are complex and diverse and generally include the following aspects:
Extended Information: Refugees in Myanmar and Lebanon
donation method
(Please specify: “Long-term Assistance to the Conflict-stricken Poor” or the project name)
After donation, please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque, bank-in slip or screenshot of successful payment along with your name, contact phone number and mailing address to us via mail, email or WhatsApp.
Address: CEDAR Fund, G.P.O. Box 3212, Hong Kong
Email: sharing@cedarfund.org
WhatsApp (for donation matters only): 5160 7549
- CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please visit Inland Revenue Department website for details.
- CEDAR Fund will issue a receipt for a donation of HK$100 or above for tax deduction. For a donation of less than HK$100, please get in touch with us to issue a receipt.
- Please DO NOT fax any donation information.