Syria
For over a decade, the conflict in Syria has been characterized by destruction on a vast scale, a refugee crisis that has reverberated around the world and shocking disregard for the laws of armed conflict. It is far from over, and people are increasingly in need of help to get through each day.
With limited prospects for an immediate end of the conflict, Syrians are growing increasingly vulnerable as their savings are exhausted and their assets are liquidated. This past year saw a more than 230 per cent increase in the average price of food baskets; people can no longer afford basic necessities such as food, health care or proper housing.
Across Syria, there are more than 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 45 per cent of those in need are children, many of whom know no other life than conflict, displacement, inadequate schooling, and insufficient healthcare.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one in every two Syrians have been displaced by conflict, both inside Syria and abroad.
Access to healthcare continues to remain a constant challenge. According to the World Health Organization, 13.2 million people require access to health assistance in Syria, but millions lack access to it. only half of Syria’s public health facilities are fully functional, with attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel a reality over the last decade.
Under such unstable conditions, women have had to plan for childbirth by caesarian rather than natural delivery, to ensure their access to health facilities. This is a major surgery with a lengthy recovery, and as with any surgery, there can be complications.
All of these compounding impacts of the conflict has also meant that the people of Syria have been exposed to repeated trauma and extreme stress. Many have watched their family members, neighbours and friends die in front of their eyes or be buried in the rubble under their collapsing homes. They have seen their houses, schools and hospitals targeted and destroyed. Others do not know the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has been working on the frontline across Syria since before the conflict started over ten years ago and continues to provide food, household items and life-saving health services to people in need.
Together with other Red Cross Movement partners, the Canadian Red Cross actively supports SARC. The Canadian Red Cross has a full-time presence in Syria and has been providing support to SARC for the last eight years.
Working closely with SARC, Canadian Red Cross is supporting the health needs of vulnerable people in Syria. This includes:
- Supporting the SARC children’s hospital in Aleppo with the provision of more incubators, and children’s surgical operations.
- Financial support to cover treatment costs for women in vulnerable situations to be able to safely deliver their babies
- Quality access to maternal health, childcare, family planning, education on breast feeding, postnatal care, and sexual reproductive health rights are provided with personalized support after delivery of a newborn.
- Community based outreach and monitoring of malnutrition, as well as nutrition services, support and referrals.
As the humanitarian needs in Syria and surrounding countries become more acute, the Canadian Red Cross is committed to continuing to support the Syrian Arab Red Crescent respond to the needs of the Syrian population in such a complex and challenging environment.
As a member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, SARC is a neutral and impartial organization guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross. Staff and have endured great risks to respond across the country, with more than 73 Red Crescent colleagues having lost their lives in the line of duty in Syria.
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Violence has brought death and destruction to Syria, and millions of people have been displaced from their homes or have fled the country.
People in Canada wishing to support Red Cross and Red Crescent relief efforts in response to the Syria Crisis are encouraged to make a financial donation to the Syria Crisis Fund.
Funds raised will go to support humanitarian efforts by the Red Cross Movement. This may include relief items (for example, blankets, sleeping mats, food parcels and hygiene items), medical supplies and equipment, the provision of technical health expertise, and deploying humanitarian personnel. This fund will cover numerous countries, including those currently affected, and those potentially affected in the future.
Our humanitarian efforts in Syria – and across the world – are guided by the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. Our mission to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity, especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies.