The humanitarian response in north-west Syria has received a crucial injection of funding by the Scottish Government whose support will help Islamic Relief to reach more than 6,000 displaced civilians ahead of the coming winter months.
The £100,000 funding boost comes from the Scottish Humanitarian Emergency Fund and will go toward purchasing essentials like blankets and mattresses that will help families who have had to flee their homes due to the fighting that ticks on in Idlib.
Vulnerable families, including those with pregnant women or those headed by children or the elderly, will also be given vouchers to pay for other essentials while also supporting the fragile local economy.
The money has been granted to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) with Islamic Relief delivering the programmes on the ground. It comes just ahead of the freezing winter months when temperatures readily drop below freezing and bitter storms make life in makeshift tents and bombed out buildings with no windows and doors all but unbearable.
“This support is desperately needed and will be a lifeline to families who have recently had to leave their homes due to intense fighting in northwest Syria. This is an area with very cold climate during the winter months and through this project we will be able to support over 6,000 people with items to help them survive the bitter weather,” said Najat Elhamri, Head of Middle East and North Africa region for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
In 2018, Islamic Relief Worldwide helped more that 1.3 million Syrians inside the conflict-ravaged country as well as thousands of Syrians who have fled to neighbouring Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon.
To date, the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria remains only 36% funded.
Original source: IR
Published on 16 October 2019
