The world has largely lost sight of Syria, while the situation there is deteriorating further, according to the Red Cross. Nearly the entire population lives below the international poverty line ($1.25 a day) and the war-torn country has recently been ravaged by a cholera outbreak. To immediately offer more help, the Red Cross is opening giro 6251 from today.
Nearly 15 million people are in need of humanitarian aid. That is the highest number since the conflict started 11 years ago and one million people more than last year. “Many live in the ruins of the war, health facilities have been destroyed, there is little electricity and people have hardly any income. In addition, everything has become much more expensive in Syria, making the situation even worse,” said Red Cross spokesman Iris van Deinse.
Many crises at once
The aid organization wants to offer residents more help than is currently the case and needs more money to do so. For that reason, the Red Cross will open giro number 6251 from today. Deinse realizes that there is a lot going on in the world at the moment, including in the Netherlands, but says that her organization wants to help as many people as possible. ,,I understand that many Dutch people can give less money due to the economic situation, there are many crises at the same time. But the conditions in Syria are so dire that we start this action anyway. Every little bit helps.”
The conditions in Syria are so dire that we are starting this action anyway. Every little bit helps
The Red Cross mainly focuses on clean drinking water and medical care. “Especially important now that there is a cholera outbreak. Hundreds of people have become ill in less than a month. Cholera can be transmitted through contaminated water. Our team ensures that the water supply is restored and installs water pumps, so that people have clean drinking water. In addition to this emergency aid, we also try to help Syrians for the longer term. For example, we train people to start a business and we distribute pregnant sheep so that families can expand their herds and make a living.”
Syria in numbers:
– Of the more than 19 million inhabitants, more than 14.6 million people need humanitarian aid. That is more than 1 million people more than in 2021.
– More than 90 percent of Syrians are alive below the poverty line of $1.25 per day. In 2010, 28 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. Covid has increased this number; before that it was around 80 percent.
– More than two thirds of the population (12.5 million) experiences food scarcity. More than 800,000 children are malnourished.
– 6.7 million Syrians are still displaced, in addition to the 5.6 million people who have fled the country. They make up 25 percent of global refugees.
– Half of the medical infrastructure (practices) is down. And up to 50 percent of the water and toilet facilities are not working or not working properly.
– According to the Global Peace Index, Syria is the least peaceful country in the world.
Source: Red Cross, UN (World Food Program and Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office)
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