MALAYSIANS are well known to be kind and very charitable people. And hence Malaysia's Syria Care organisation are now hoping Malaysians continue to give for the sake of many suffering Syrian refugees now staying in agony in Lebanon.
There are an estimated 7 to 8 million Syrians displaced inside Syria without proper shelter for them to embrace the upcoming winter. Winter in Syria can be very harsh and include prolonged periods of snow and temperatures below zero.
Out of the 7 million men, women, boys and girls who are estimated to be internally displaced, many have left without adequate clothing and have to stay in make-shift shelters, which leaves them extremely vulnerable to rain, snow and freezing temperatures.
For this year's winter campaign, Syria Care, a Malaysian NGO, are determined to increase the number of people who would benefit from it.
Taking into account that procurement, shipment and delivery to the end user may take up to two months, Syria Care is urgently seeking funding to ensure that the specified relief will be available before the cold season hits.
For the annual Syria Care Winter Aid Campaign, Syria Care aim to provide winterization items such as blankets and winter clothing for approximately 12,000 people including children. One child set includes a winter hat, gloves, winter jacket, winter pants, socks and a pair of wellington boots.
At a recent donation drive campaign called 'Warm Their Winter', Syria Care had started a campaign to collect much needed clothes for the Syrians at Dewan Melati, Shah Alam (Section 7), from Oct 23-27.
Syria Care CEO Siti Sakinah Meor Omar Baki said she was grateful for all the donations they had received during the weekend but said much more was needed to ensure that they can continue helping the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
"We intend to send 40-foot containers containing 756 boxes of clothes with each box weighing at least 40kg. We are confident we will be helping to provide safe clothing for at least 12,000 Syrian refugees who are now placed in Tripoli, Lebanon," said Siti Sakinah.
"We believe our donations will provide clothing and better protection as winters in Leabanon are known to be very, very harsh. Our donations also hopefully will ensure more children be safe from those cold conditions in Tripoli."
"But this is not enough. I believe we Malaysians can always do more, as we have done more in the past."
Siti Sakinah added that she is hoping for more help and donations from the Malaysian people, top local business companies and also international outfits to help out the organisation and its donation drive," added Siti Sakinah.
She said Syria Care are also looking at another RM200,000 in ensuring the donation goods can we sent to Tripoli without any issues and without delays.
"We want to give hope to the Syrians especially the elderly community and the many children that are trapped in Tripoli. We want to show them that Malaysia cares and the people of this country understand their suffering," said Siti Sakinah.
"Time are tougher now as the Israel and also targeting them as seen in the recent bombings that people around the world has witnessed."
Siti Sakinah said as such the organisation is hoping for further donations from Malaysians. They have opened a careline through the "Maybank Syria Care account (Account No. 550514240469)".
Donations can also be given through the organisation's official website www.syriacare.org.my/warmtheirwinter
Further enquiries can also be made through Muhammad Nufazli Rahman, a Syria Care donations executive at 011-1136 2567 or partnership@syriacare.org.my
(FOR THE RECORD: Thirteen years of conflict have left 16.7 million people requiring humanitarian aid and 15 million people - 65% of the population – in need of health assistance in Syria. This is the largest number of people in need of humanitarian aid since the conflict began in 2011.
“There are currently more Syrians in need of aid than any other time since the war began,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “An entire generation has been born into war, knowing nothing but insecurity and deprivation, and facing shock after repeated shock. We need to exert all efforts to protect and strengthen Syria’s health system so that all people across the country have access to affordable and accessible health care services.”
The earthquake that affected Türkiye and Syria in February 2023 added another layer of suffering to people ravaged by years of war. Since the escalation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory in October 2023, the security situation in Syria has become increasingly unstable, particularly in the northeast and northwest regions.)
