‘Can we live up to the ideals we espouse?’ Doug Marshall  (working with refugees in Malta) commentates on five 2016 World Press Photo images.

Swiss Evangelical Alliance believes it is “a step in the wrong direction” to reduce public aid to developing countries to only 0.3% of GDP.

“Nobody is your friend, nobody can feel what you feel and what you have left behind you… you need ears that listen to you.” M. tells her story as a refugee.

The situation inside the ‘jungle’ of Calais is “chaotic”, admits Paul Sydnor (IAFR). Churches should understand the need to “offer a platform” for reconciliation between Christian and Muslim asylum seekers.

What has been happening in Calais in the last few months? What are the risks for the refugees living in these camps? What are churches doing to help? Paul Sydnor (International Association for Refugees) answers to some of the burning questions. 

The prestigious photography prize underlines the refugee crisis. See some of the best pictures.

After surviving her own journey, Zinash Witsel supports other people arriving to Europe. “I try and help them as best as I can, because I know how it feels to be a refugee.”

The 2016 Refugee Highway Partnership Europe roundtable in Catania (Italy) gathered more than 80 people from 17 countries. Participants shared experiences, ideas and resources to better serve refugees in their countries. 

Local church members “invite refugees to their homes, let their children get to know their children, show them where to get a discount on children’s clothes.” 

The Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP) round tables gathered experts, Christian NGOs and church leaders in Catania to analyse the crisis Europe is facing and find ways to “offer integral help.”

Thousands of Syrians have left Aleppo, where 500 have died in Russian strikes, seeking refuge in Turkey. Meanwhile, EU has given Athens one month to improve conditions for asylum seekers

“In the camp I started a prayer meeting, and preached the gospel – a kind of refugee church with a lot of young people began.” Vimal Vimalasekaran now serves among asylum seekers in Germany. 

Around 26,000 unaccompanied children entered Europe last year. Most of them are targeted by criminal gangs. Some have been sexually exploited, Europol informed.

A 2012 UNHCR document by António Guterres already highlighted the central role faith-based organisations play in “making solutions sustainable by helping refugees integrate in their new communities.”

Roundtable meetings in Sicily will bring together experts, organisations serving refugees and churches. The Refugee Highway Partnership in Europe has been offering this platform to share resources and learn from each other for 13 consecutive years.

Under the umbrella of the Evangelical Alliance, Christians in Hungary have formed a coalition “to give a real Christian response.”

The victims were on two boats attempting to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece. Top officials from Denmark, Sweden and Germany will hold talks in Brussels.

Most of the people came via Greece, which took in more than 820,000 people this year. Half of them were Syrians.

In the last EU Council meeting of the year the Member States have been unwilling to address the refugee crisis and the four points Cameron asks in order for the UK to stay in the Union. 

Hundreds will spend Christmas in churches, the social welfare organisation of the official Protestant church explained. 

Evi Rodemann, director of the Mission-Net Congress (December 28 - January 2), talks about the role of youth in church and missions, the challenges Europe is facing, and the importance of real discipleship.

EU officials, politicians and diplomats met in Brussels for the 2015 European Prayer Breakfast. The aim of the 370 participants, to “gather together around the person of Jesus Christ” and pray for the issues the continent faces. 

EU leaders and Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu have agreed on a 3-billion-Euro aid deal to stem the crisis. Talks on Turkey's EU membership process will be relaunched.

An updated ACAPS report shows that Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia are receiving more than 6,000 new people every day. “Access to healthcare and psycho-social support” should be a priority.

More money than expected raised for the “Homes for refugees” campaign in Switzerland. The Swiss Evangelical Alliance announces they have hired a person to coordinate the action.