The civil war in Syria rages on, claiming more lives and causing untold misery. According to UNOCHA, more than a quarter of a million people have lost their lives and another 1 million have suffered grave injuries since March 2011.
The Syrian war has created the largest displacement crisis in the world. 4.8 million Syrians have been forced to leave the country, and 6.5 million people have become internally displaced.
The Crisis in Aleppo
In the besieged city of eastern Aleppo, more than 250,000 Syrians remain trapped with limited access to basic necessities including food, clean water and medical care. It’s estimated that the city’s residents will run out of food and medical supplies in 20 days, leaving a quarter of a million people vulnerable to the possibility of mass starvation.
Of the 250,000 people sheltering within Aleppo, 100,000 are children. Children always face the greatest suffering in times of crisis, and Syrian children are living in a constant state of terror, waiting for the next bout of deadly violence. A whole generation of children will now grow up bearing serious psychological scars.
Aleppo has lost its final medical facility after another heavy bombardment, and the World Health Organisation has confirmed that every hospital in the city is now out of action. Without any medical facilities left to cater for the wounded, the people of Aleppo are in a desperate situation.
Outside of the besieged areas, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their earthly belongings because bombs are falling around them. Refugee camps are struggling to cope with all the new arrivals, people who have nowhere else to turn. As the winter draws ever closer, the plight of Syria’s refugees grows.
Human Appeal’s Response
Human Appeal is on the ground in Azaz, rural Aleppo, and we have already installed 250 tents for new internally displaced persons. After a training session for volunteers, we managed to set up the tents in just two days.
These tents will provide shelter for around 4,000 people, giving them a much better chance of surviving the winter months. In partnership with Qatar Charity, we’re also working to provide families with access to clean water and WASH facilities.
However, we can only continue this work with your help. The people of Aleppo need you now, more than ever.
