Week of Compasison: Continuing response to Syria crisis
The conflict and high level of violence in Syria today continues to affect many people and the surrounding countries. Aerial bombings by government forces, attacks by armed opposition, and extremist terrorists groups for the last four years have led to many deaths, injuries and displacement; and 2014 was the deadliest year of the conflict with at least 76,000 Syrians killed.
Currently, it’s estimated that 12.2 million people in Syria Arab Republic remain in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, half of which are children and many of them are trapped in hard to reach areas. Over 3 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries and around 6.5 million people have been internally displaced by the conflict.
Humanitarian needs remain enormous and challenging. Only a little more than 400,000 refugees are accommodated in refugee camps; and outside of camps, it is estimated that 38% live in sub-standard shelter. Making the humanitarian response even more difficult is the cold weather during these winter months.
Week of Compassion has been working with our partners, Global Ministries Middle East and Europe Office and ACT Alliance, to provide emergency relief in Syria and the surrounding countries of Lebanon and Jordan. Humanitarian aid is being provided to affected populations with emergency food, clean water, hygiene, medicine, clothes and blankets for the winter cold weather. Thanks to your generous gifts to Week of Compassion we will continue to work with our partners in the upcoming weeks and months to provide immediate relief and assistance to these vulnerable communities.
This report is also available as a pdf.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ continue to offer support for the work of many partners in the region to provide humanitarian response to the needs of Syrian refugees. Please consider supporting the work of Global Ministries’ partners’ relief efforts in and around Syria. You can do that through the Week of Compassion (Disciples), One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC), or through Global Ministries directly.