Former Ambassador Sam Brownback, who is now with Open Doors USA, says the media is largely ignoring Afghanistan and the plight of Christians who are fleeing the dangerous nation.
"Taliban are hunting people down that they found in the system that worked for western NGOs (non-governmental organizations), Christian NGOs that are there," Brownback relays. "Then you've got this starvation, depravation, lack of medicines that are there that are probably going to kill a lot more people than even the Taliban. It's really a dire situation."
Christians are still making their way out of the country, though in much smaller numbers. The big problem they face is getting countries to take them in as permanent refugees.
"We've had some countries like Brazil step up to be willing to take Christians and others that are fleeing Afghanistan. The United States needs to take more," the former ambassador submits. "This is a situation that in many respects we're responsible for."
The problem is compounded by the fact that so many of the nations that have allowed the refugees into their borders are only permitting them to stay a short time before they must find another host country or be deported.
Meanwhile, the president of an international human rights organization that "helps those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ" says Christians and other religious groups in Southeast Asia are facing extreme persecution.
Wendy Wright of Christian Freedom International (CFI) says the government of Burma has sent its military on a shoot-to-kill mission in an area of the country that is majority Christian, including the "Karen" minority groups, in an effort to eradicate non-Buddhists.
"Right now the Burmese military is attacking villages," Wright reports. "There was a massacre on Christmas Eve. It's estimated 35 people were killed in this massacre. Their bodies were charred beyond recognition."
The location is very near CFI's Victory Bible Academy.
"Our students during December would be doing mission trips into Burma, but because of COVID and because of the violence occurring in Burma, they were not allowed to go in," Wright details. "As it turns out, though, these refugees are now flooding to the area where our school is."
Christian Freedom International already has students responding to very serious needs of thousands of refugees.
"Victory Bible Academy is helping," the CFI president asserts. "Right now our staff and our students are providing hot meals, clothes, water, [and] blankets, and we want to and need to continue to do more."
Burma's military has cut off supply lines to thousands of families, which makes the aid CFI and its school are providing all the more important.
