Food aid needed for thousands of Syrians

Topics: National, Emergencies and Disasters Worldwide
September 03, 2013

Food aid is in serious danger of running out in some areas of the country due to lack of funding and the length of Syria’s conflict.  There are currently over four million people in Syria who are in critical need of this assistance.  

According to Khaled Erksoussi, head of operations at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), food aid is currently the number one priority.  Food parcels are being split to feed two families instead of one, and individuals are also selling some of their food to pay for other essentials.  Without donor support, 150,000 people could be without food aid as of October.

To date, the Canadian Red Cross has contributed $75,000 in food aid, along with other relief supplies, delegates and funds but much more assistance is needed to support ongoing SARC response activities.  Rising costs of food and fuel coupled with repeated population movement, fighting and reduced employment have compounded the humanitarian situation within Syria.  With support from partners, the SARC provides more than two million people each month with assistance.

Approximately 3,000 Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers, sometimes under life-threatening conditions, are providing urgent assistance to those affected. The National Society, with support from its partners, is providing assistance to more than two million people each month.  Red Crescent operations within the country have primarily focussed on relief, and emergency and basic health, including providing food parcels and non-food relief items, like hygiene kits, mattresses, blankets, and basic kitchen items so that displaced families can survive and stay healthy. The situation on the ground for staff and volunteers is unpredictable and extremely volatile.

To help provide urgent life-saving assistance to Syrian families, please donate to the Syria Crisis Appeal today. Funds raised will support the on-going Red Cross Movement operations in Syria and region.
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