These UK charities are all working to alleviate the suffering of Syrian people, take a look to find out how you can help
Scots are being asked to dig deep this Christmas in an effort to avert an impending humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Aleppo.
Thousands of people are trapped in the last remaining rebel-held neighbourhoods in the Syrian city, many of whom have been desperately appealing on social media for help.
Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been under siege since 2012 when hostilities first broke out between president Bashir Assad’s Syrian Armed Forces and the rebel-backed Free Syrian Army.
The UN has described the crisis as a “complete meltdown of humanity” with Scottish and UK-based charities launching fundraising campaigns in a bid to help those who are trapped or have fled the city.
Reports of atrocities against civilians have been increasing and western aid is seen by many as the last vestige of hope.
For ordinary Scots it can be difficult to know where to begin to try to help people affected by the ongoing crisis. To assist, TFN has compiled a list of UK-based international charities working directly to provide aid to victims of the conflict.
All these charities guarantee every penny donated will go directly to those suffering by providing food, shelter, warmth and above all safety.
British Red Cross
As fierce fighting continues in Aleppo, the British Red Cross and its partners are supporting 1,000 families forced to flee their homes. This includes providing essential food, shelter, water and medical care.
Since August, around 60,000 people have had to leave their homes in Aleppo because of violence. Volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are distributing mattresses, blankets, bread and cooked meals. The Red Crescent has also installed 15 water tanks to provide clean drinking water. Each tank has been filled with water trucked into the city, while bottles of water are also distributed.
In addition, teams are providing medical care and ambulances to transport emergency cases to specialised facilities.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is working directly with civilians evacuating from the city of Aleppo, and it is prepared to receive newly displaced people across northern Syria. Its teams are standing by with food, blankets, and other supplies to help the countless men, women and children who are hoping to escape the fighting and find safety. It does not yet know how many people are on the move, or where they will end up.
Mercy Corps remains committed to helping all Syrians in need — as it has been for years. Everyone deserves to have clean water, food and medical care, no matter where they live or what forces control their town.
Oxfam
The conflict in Syria has resulted in a severe and worsening emergency. Four million refugees have fled into neighbouring countries, and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. Oxfam has reached over 1.5 million people already with desperately needed food, water and shelter.
£35 could help provide shelter for families
£60 could help ensure families have enough food
£100 could help supply life-saving clean water
Save the Children
Inside Syria, Save the Children provides food, support hospitals, help schools to keep running and repair water systems.
It also providesspecialist emotional support for children.
Despite the incredibly difficult situation, its local partners have managed toreach more than 500,000 vulnerable childrenin besieged areas in Syria.
This is Save the Children’s largest ever emergency response - its reached more than 3.3 million children across the region since the conflict started in 2011.
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
SCIAF is working with Caritas Jordan to provide emergency aid to refugees and vulnerable Jordanians who are helping to host new arrivals. The help includes medical care, vouchers for food, clothing, and accommodation, as well as soap, blankets and heaters.
Its latest figures show that over 146,800 Syrian people have been registered by Caritas Jordan and received help in Mafraq, Irbid, Zarqa, Amman and Madaba.
SCIAF’s Syrian Refugee Emergency Appeal has received over £90,000 in donations from supporters across Scotland. However, the need is great and urgent. Tens of thousands of refugees continue to pour over the borders every day, please keep these people in your prayers.
Help Refugees
“We are currently living in a refugee crisis unseen since the Second World War. The UN estimates that 65.3 million people are now refugees, seeking asylum, or internally displaced.”
Help Refugees is a UK organisation that provides emergency aid and vital services to those affected by the global refugee crisis. It works where governmental and other non-governmental bodies cannot, filling the gaps in services to those displaced in Europe and beyond. It is currently the primary aid-provider in Calais whilst funding and supporting projects throughout Europe and the Middle East.
