Syria is suffering like few other places on earth. Only a decade ago it was self-sufficient, with healthy exports, but that now seems a distant memory. The war is a main factor, of course, but vast wildfires also destroyed grain and other crops, as well as grazing areas. In addition, the U.S. is confiscating (stealing) nearly all of Syria’s oil production. Worse than all of this, however, have been the crushing economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies. These are so onerous that almost no aid is distributed in Syria except in a tiny fraction of the northwest, in an area dominated by terrorist al-Qaeda affiliates and their Turkish sponsors.
“But I’ve donated to Syrian charities,” you say. “I’ve given to Doctors Without Borders or the International Rescue Committee or the Syrian American Medical Society or the White Helmets, or Islamic Relief USA, CARE or others.” Sad to say, your donations only reached the less than 10% of Syrians in the shrinking terrorist-controlled areas. Nothing went to the other 90%.
This is because the U.S. sanctions regulations do not permit international organizations to distribute aid through charitable organizations registered with the Syrian government, such as the Syrian equivalent of the Red Cross. The sanctions permit aid to enter these areas only if the foreign organization distributes the aid through its own personnel (paid or volunteer). Very few organizations have created their own distribution system inside government-controlled Syria.
That’s why we’re different.
The Syria Solidarity Movement® has been distributing aid to needy Syrians in Syria through our own volunteers since September, 2019. We have helped the neediest of the needy in places where other international charitable organizations do not go. This winter is expected to be one of the most terrible in memory. There is a real danger of starvation for lack of food, of fuel for heat, cooking and transportation, and of materials to repair homes and businesses to keep the cold out. People froze and starved to death last year, but this year will be worse.
Unfortunately, our resources are not even 1% that of larger organizations. We are trying to raise $7000 for the cases below, but no matter how much we receive – even $100,000 – every penny will help Syrians survive the winter and provide for their families. Please send what you can.
Ismail Qarbish (Latakia)
Ismail is a 10-year-old boy who is paralyzed. The doctor says that Ismail needs to follow a treatment program as soon as possible (before he grows older). His family started a donation campaign but the money was only enough for some sessions. We have been asked to cover the remaining sessions so that they will be able to start the treatment shortly.
Badiaa Khudair (Homs)
Badiaa is a widow, a 43-year-old mother of three, with three children, ages 6, 11 and 12. Badiaa is an internal refugee and has no family in Homs. She and her children are homeless. They sleep in parks or damaged uninhabited buildings that have not yet been demolished. We were asked to pay the rent for a space in one of the damaged buildings, but we decided not to accept because it is not habitable. Instead, we found an unfurnished flat that we agreed to rent. Badiaa has almost no possessions, only enough for two plastic bags. We want to buy the basic needs: two beds, two warm covers, a stove and diesel oil for the winter, a simple kitchen set, some clothes for the children for the winter, school supplies for the children and other necessities. Our volunteers got in touch with people in the suburb where we rented the flat and asked them to look for cleaning work for Badiaa so that she can have a small income. Unfortunately, on the day that our volunteer was supposed to meet Badiaa to go register the rent contract, she and her children were in a car accident. Nevertheless, our team is finding solutions.
Ammar Bilal (Shin, a village in the countryside of Homs)
Ammar is a 24-year-old wounded army officer (paralyzed). He has physiotherapy twice a week. Ammar lives with eight other family members in a place with no roof. Ammar is full of energy and hope and willing to work hard to support his family. The plan is to start work on the house as soon as possible before the winter begins. We are also going to try helping Ammar to open a games shop in the village to have a source of income. Husam has been studying this case for some time now. He has been to the village to see if we can rent a shop for him. We suggest to buy him a pool table and a fish table game machine and maybe one or two other game machines. Ammar is full of hope that he will have a chance to start working to get back the feeling that he is an independent human being and able to support his family.
As these projects are completed, we will provide reports and photos, and we will propose new projects as our funding allows.
To support the work of the Syria Solidarity Movement® with your donations, please go to
http://www.syriasolidaritymovement.org/donate-2/
All donations are US tax exempt.
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