Syrian Humanitarian Relief

About the Emergency

March 2013 marked two years since an uprising began in Syria, isolating entire towns and neighborhoods, and exposing many Syrians to daily violence. In many communities, people have been forced to remain in their homes for safety. Many others have been pushed out of their neighborhoods to try to find refuge in adjacent areas—according to the UNHCR, there is an estimated 4.25 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Syria. They cannot commute to work, school and other places of business, or get supplies or medical care. This makes life unbearable for people who already have little access to food, water, medical care and electricity.

To protect their families, thousands of Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries, such as Jordan and Lebanon. As of June 2013, United Nations officials report the registered Syrian refugee population outside Syria has surpassed 1.6 million. In Jordan, areas such as Mafraq, Ramtha, Irbid, Zarqa, Maan, Al Karak and Amman are hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, while in Lebanon, many Syrian refugees are being hosted in areas such as Akkar.

The Harsh Winter Made Life Even Harder for Refugees

As cold winter weather set in across the Middle East toward the end of 2012 and into 2013, Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon found that their limited resources and difficult living conditions got that much harder. Temperatures dropped to the low 20s (Fahrenheit), and snow fell. According to Reuters, this was the worst winter storm to hit the region in two decades. People have had to burn doors, books, and chairs to keep warm.

And where snow didn’t fall, rain did—news agencies reported that many Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan had to flee their camps because of flooding: tents were destroyed; roads were washed away; electricity and phone service was cut.

A Syrian refugee, living in Lebanon, told Reuters: “It’s like we’ve returned to ancient times. We’re living without electricity, without water, without anything.”

How Islamic Relief is Helping

Thousands of Syrians in need, both inside Syria and in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon, have been helped by Islamic Relief USA’s generous community. And, through the collaborative efforts of Islamic Relief offices around the world, more than 1 million Syrians affected by the conflict have received aid. Learn more via this infographic.

Inside Syria, Islamic Relief donors are providing:

• Food parcels: rice, sugar, bulgur, canned beans, lentils, za’atar, olive oil, cans of tuna, tahini sauce with molasses, flour, sweets
• Hygiene products: shampoo, soap, detergent, facial tissues, toothpaste
• Items, such as diapers, bottles, and food, for babies
• Mattresses
• Blankets
• Medical equipment for at least 42 health facilities
• Shower and restroom facilities

***While the situation inside and around Syria is volatile and could change, Islamic Relief is making every effort to accomplish its goal to of delivering aid items to those who need it most. If changing conditions in the region make this impossible, however, Islamic Relief USA will provide assistance to address a similar need, and will update you—our generous donors—on the situation as quickly as possible.

In Jordan, Islamic Relief donors, in collaboration with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), are supporting Syrian refugees by providing:

• Food parcels: rice, sugar, oil, pasta, powdered milk, beans, cheese, salt, tomato paste, chicken stock
• Hygiene products: shampoo, soap, detergent, facial tissues, toothpaste
• Cooking fuel
• Items, such as diapers, for babies
• Mattresses, blankets and pillows
• Housing rent assistance
• Medicines and hospitalization, including urgent medical treatments, such as kidney dialysis, and vital surgeries
• Special food packages were distributed during the Ramadan and Udhiyah/Qurbani seasons in 2011 and 2012

Islamic Relief USA donors also helped provide about 5 forty-foot containers of additional emergency relief supplies, which include 24,000 lbs of powdered milk, nearly 4,500 hygiene kits, 9,600 blankets, 2,760 pairs of winter boots and more than 3,000 pairs of shoes, nearly 3,400 school kits, and more than 20,000 coats.

In Lebanon, Islamic Relief donors are helping support Syrian refugees and host families by providing:

• Food parcels: rice, sugar, lentils, peas, tomato sauce, noodles, pasta, beans, oil, halawa, salt, water, bread, halal luncheon meats, tea
• Hygiene products: shampoo, soap, detergent, facial tissues, toothpaste
• Items, such as diapers, for babies
• Clothes
• Mattresses and blankets
• Kitchen sets
• Heaters and candles
• Mosquito repellants
• Special food packages were distributed during the Ramadan and Udhiyah/Qurbani seasons in 2011 and 2012

Reports, Radio-A-Thons, Telethons and More

Islamic Relief USA published these reports and hosted these radio-a-thons and telethons to inform the community of the situation, and to help garner support for humanitarian efforts:

• “Journal from the Field: Syrian Humanitarian Relief”

  IRUSA’s Ahmed Shehata offers a brief glimpse into the conditions facing Syrian refugees in Lebanon during his time in the field.

• “Life in a Leather Factory”

  Mustafa and his father Abdel Rahim escaped violence in Syria only to find themselves seeking refugee in a leather factory in Lebanon. Read their story, and about how your donations are helping them.

• “Mahmoud Needed Surgery to Save His Life”

  Islamic Relief USA’s urgent medical assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan has helped young Mahmoud. Read about this brave little boy’s journey from Syria to Jordan, and how your donations helped save his life.

• “IRUSA CEO Visits Syrian Refugees, Jordanian Officials”

  Abed Ayoub’s first-hand account of conditions facing Syrian refugees in Jordan during his visit in 2012.

• Report from the Field

  Islamic Relief USA disseminated this report on Aug. 10, 2012, to coincide with the Day of Solidarity with the Syrian People and to provide its community with information straight from the field about conditions facing Syrian refugees in Lebanon at that time.

• Radio-A-Thon for Syria on OneLegacyRadio

  On Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, Islamic Relief USA, Maher Zain, Omar Offendum and countless others participated in a radio-a-thon on OneLegacyRadio.com to raise awareness and support for Syrians in need. IRUSA’s Ridwan Adhami also called in, live from the field in Jordan, to provide a firsthand account of conditions facing Syrian refugees.

• “In Solidarity with Syria with Shaikh Mohammad Al-Areefi” June 2 on Iqraa-TV

  On Saturday, June 2, 2012, Islamic Relief USA, Shaikh Mohammed Al-Areefi and Iqraa TV Channel hosted a telethon dedicated to bringing awareness and support for Syrian refugees in need. The show was broadcast on Iqraa-TV.net.

• “Opening Our Hearts for Syrian Refugees” Webinar with Al Maghrib Institute

  On Sunday, April 1, 2012, Islamic Relief USA and Al Maghrib Institute hosted a Webinar dedicated to bringing awareness and support to Syrian refugees who have fled to other countries to escape violence in their own.

From the Field

This video and these photos come to you straight from the field.

How You Can Help

Here are three ways you can help efforts like these.