Refugee Response Teams

Note: the November Refugee Response Team has been cancelled.

Delegation to Syria and Jordan.

1 out of every 5 Iraqis have been displaced*. Almost 5 million Iraqis have become refugees.

Do something about it.

Middle East Fellowship, in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches, will be bringing participants to Syria and Jordan to meet with Iraqi refugees and humanitarian organizations who are working on their behalf. The plight of Iraqi refugees is a crisis that has received little media attention but has become a critical humanitarian issue throughout the Middle East.

Your Guide:

The delegation will be led by Nuhad Tomeh, Associate General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, regional liaison for the Presbyterian Church, USA and Middle East Fellowship board member. Read Nuhad's bio.

+ View Sample itinerary (rough draft)

Goals of the trips: • To identify groups and churches who are assisting the refugee populations in the Middle East and discover opportunities to support their efforts. • To analyze the current predicament of Middle East refugee populations by speaking with humanitarian organizations, local churches, U.N. representatives and others who are responding to the growing crisis. • To raise awareness worldwide about the plight of refugees.

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In order for your application to be considered complete, you will need to submit a $150 registration fee. Payment for the rest of the trip is due by the application deadline. [If for any reason you are not accepted into the program or the program is canceled, the registration fee is fully refundable].

Dates: TBA.

Cost: $1,495 (not including flight).

Requirements: A strong desire to learn more about the plight of Iraqi refugees. A willingness to share what you learn with your own community once you've returned home. There are no other prerequisites.

Visas: A Syrian visa is required in advance. Middle East Fellowship will walk you through the application process step-by-step and can even hand deliver your application to the Syrian Consulate.

Accommodations: In Damascus participants will stay at the Saint Elias Monastery. All rooms are equipped with high speed internet access, telephones, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mini refrigerators, satellite television (including CNN), large closets, and private bathrooms with hot water and seated toilets. In Jordan participants will stay at a hotel, most likely Century Park or the Shepherd's Hotel.

If you are interested in joining a Refugee Response Team, please contact us.

Why Join?

1) Be a compassionate listener.
Meet with churches and organizations working with Iraqi refugees and meet with refugees themselves to hear their stories and learn more about their plight.

2) Experience Jordan and Syria.
Travel to a region rich in culture and history.

3) Be at the forefront of meaningful change.
Help us bring more awareness to the plight of refugees, one of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises.

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Future Delegations

In addition to the November trip, Middle East Fellowship will be hosting Refugee Response Teams to Syria and Jordan and Syria and Lebanon in 2010. For more information please contact us.

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Educational Resources:

Iraqi Refugee Stories: Videos of Iraqi Refugee Interviews
Human Rights First Iraqi Refugee Campaign
International Rescue Committee
Refugee International Fact Sheet
UNCHR: The Iraq Situation
New York Times' Iraq Refugee Articles

PDF Downloads:

Middle East Fellowship Report - Two Changing Spheres: NGOS and Iraqis in Syria.

Amnesty International Report on Iraqi Refugees (June 2008).

Forced Migration Review Special Issue on Iraqi Refugees (June 2007).