JPANet Action Alert: Pray and Act for Syria

#Syria

As the Obama Administration responds to use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria, you can take action by calling on President Obama to avoid any military intervention now. Urge the U.S. to use all diplomatic and humanitarian means at our disposal for a resolution to this crisis.

(Photo: A tent serves as a makeshift school for Syrian children living in a camp for displaced persons in Qatma, Syria.)

The administration released its assessment of the Syrian regime’s harrowing use of chemical weapons this week- attacks that killed close to 1,500 civilians including children. The global community has unequivocally condemned the use of chemical weapons and indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians. The regime’s use of these weapons is a clear violation of international law, and those responsible should be brought to justice. A U.S. military response to these actions, however, would risk further enflaming the violence in the country and destabilizing the region.  Limited strikes rarely remain so. 

We grieve for the more than 4 million people who have been displaced from their homes within Syria.  We grieve for the 1.7 million who have been forced to seek refuge in nearby countries.  The United Church of Christ and other faith and humanitarian communities are committed to increasing humanitarian aid to Syria to help. We also grieve over the loss of 1,500 lives to chemical weapons and the more 100,000 lives which have been lost throughout the war in Syria. 

Amidst this grief, we call on our leaders to exercise moral courage and fully exhaust all diplomatic and humanitarian solutions. A military solution would eliminate the potential for what is needed most- a politically negotiated settlement led by the U.N. with U.S. support that seeks to contain the violence, restore stability in the region, provide humanitarian assistance, and encourage the building of an inclusive society in Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens.

As people of faith we call on the U.S. to avoid any military intervention now. We urge the U.S. to use all diplomatic and humanitarian means at our disposal for a resolution to this crisis.