ABC Syria humanitarian relief appeal

Thousands of refugees wait to cross the border from Serbia to Tovarnik in Croatia. MSF offers medical attention to the refugees arriving to Tovarnik (Croatia) after Hungary closed its borders. Refugees wait at the Tovarnik train station for trains and buses to take them to Zagreb (Croatia). MSF teams in Croatia comprise 14 people, made up of medical and logistics staff. MSF teams run mobile clinics to cover the wide area in which refugees are settled after their trip from Serbia. Copyright: Juan Carlos Tomasi/MSF Image: Thousands of refugees wait to cross the border from Serbia to Tovarnik in Croatia. MSF offers medical attention to the refugees arriving to Tovarnik (Croatia) after Hungary closed its borders. Refugees wait at the Tovarnik train station for trains and buses to take them to Zagreb (Croatia). MSF teams in Croatia comprise 14 people, made up of medical and logistics staff. MSF teams run mobile clinics to cover the wide area in which refugees are settled after their trip from Serbia. Copyright: Juan Carlos Tomasi/MSF (Source: ABC licensed)
In 2013, Workers start to unload the 15,000 blankets and 3,000 tents for displaced Syrians living in makeshift camps in the Azzas area of northern Syria. Image: In 2013, Workers start to unload the 15,000 blankets and 3,000 tents for displaced Syrians living in makeshift camps in the Azzas area of northern Syria. Source: ABC licensed
Syrian refugee children hold hands and form a ring while playing a game between classes in Adiyaman, which is one of 17 camps in Turkey. Image: Syrian refugee children hold hands and form a ring while playing a game between classes in Adiyaman, which is one of 17 camps in Turkey. Source: ABC licensed
A young Syrian boy carries his bag over the border into Jordan. Image: A young Syrian boy carries his bag over the border into Jordan. Source: ABC licensed

Last updated: 02/10/2015

The people of Syria are experiencing a humanitarian crisis due to the civil war.

The conflict in Syria began in 2010. The UN says more than 200,000 people have been killed and over one million injured.

More than half of all Syrians have been forced to leave their homes, often multiple times, making Syria the largest displacement crisis globally.

Inside Syria 12.2 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance including more than 5.6 million children. 7.6 million people have been displaced by this conflict. An estimated 4.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in hard to reach and besieged locations.

Humanitarian access to people in need in Syria is constrained by shifting frontlines, administrative and bureaucratic hurdles, violence along access routes and general safety and security concerns.

Islamic Relief Australia is raising funds to assist the international aid agencies response to the crisis.

It's Country Director, Salwan Ameen says It has implemented more than 220 projects to support Syrians in Syria, and neighbouring Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. "These projects have varied from providing food aid, non-food items, education support, shelter assistance, psychosocial support, Water and Sanitation Health projects, and medical assistance."

Islamic Relief has reached 7,126,795 people in Syria and neighbouring countries since 2012 through its humanitarian and urgent assistance in various sectors.
"In 2014 alone, more than 500,000 Syrians benefited from Islamic Relief's Winter programmes, with over 11,000 Syrians in Lebanon receiving items such as blankets, clothes, vouchers, gas heaters, gas cylinders and mattresses. Inside Syria, over 44,000 blankets were distributed, as well as thousands of mattresses and sheets," Mr Ameen said.

The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is providing humanitarian assistance to those made vulnerable by conflict and emergencies. Working closely with Syrian Arab Red Crescent, it provide basic necessities people need to survive: from food and water to medical care and hygiene items.

It is also supporting Syrians who have become refugees in neighbouring Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq, as well as the communities hosting them.

Marina Spyridaki is an MSF psychologist has been working with refugees on the Greek island of Kos as they wait to receive papers that will allow them to leave for Athens and continue their journeys.
"I am offering psychosocial support to people wherever they need it - I hold sessions in the park, the port, wherever there are refugees trying to live.
"There was a 14-year-old Syrian boy who arrived here on his own. A woman working at the port saw him crying day after day and asked us to help him. He was desperate to go back to Turkey, where his mother was. He felt he just couldn't survive without her. But it had been the family's decision for him to leave, and it wasn't possible for him to go back."

The following aid agencies based in Australia are supporting those caught up in the crisis overseas and will welcome your support. Most are members of The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and are signatories to ACFIDs internationally recognised code of conduct relating to fund raising and aid distribution, and those which aren't have similar operating guidelines.

The Refugee Council of Australia represents agencies looking to support resettlement in Australia.


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The ABC has a proud track record of working with aid agencies during crises and humanitarian aid appeals.

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