Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) said it has initiated an emergency response to the recent displacement wave in Idlib, northern Syria, where insecurity and armed conflict affected nearly 4mn Syrians already suffering from terrible living conditions.
In Doha, QRCS’s Disaster Information Management Centre was activated to co-ordinate with QRCS’s representation mission in Gaziantep, Turkey, on the situation updates. On the ground, QRCS’s medical personnel provided assistance for 177 children, 19 newborns and 86 women, the organisation said in a statement.
“Since the eruption of the conflict, we have been working in Syria,” said Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, executive director of the Relief and International Development Division at QRCS. “Relief aid has been constantly provided for the affected communities in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
“In light of the recent displacement of around 41,000 Syrian families, we have intensified our efforts to secure as much aid as possible. We are driven by our firm humanitarian commitments as an active player in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement”.
Despite the efforts done by the numerous humanitarian providers operating there, he asserted, they remained insufficient to meet the critical needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs). These include food parcels, readymade meals, heaters, blankets, heating oil, warm clothes, children’s supplies and tarpaulins. “Through its representation mission in Turkey, QRCS is providing food and winterisation aid for the benefit of 56,000 IDPs across Idlib,” Dr Ibrahim explained.
Under the theme of #ReliefIdlib, the plan comprises four main items: heating oil for 13,000 IDPs over two months (40 litres per family per month), at a total cost of QR2,080,000; food parcels consisting of local food products for 20,000 IDPs over one month, at a total cost of QR932,000; blankets for 15,000 IDPs, at a total cost of QR615,000; and tarpaulins for 8,000 IDPs (two tarpaulins per family), at a total cost of QR374,000.
Dr Ibrahim urged people in Qatar to extend help to their brothers and sisters in Syria.
“The cold weather and homelessness have combined together to deepen the suffering of vulnerable families in Syria. They have nothing to protect themselves against the freezing winter or to feed their kids with. Helping them is a religious and humanitarian responsibility,” he said. “The people of Qatar have always been known for generosity, benevolence and care for those in need. In this calamity, they are expected to be there again for humanity.
To support the relief of the affected population in Syria, donations can be received via hotlines (16002–66644822); call for home visit (66666364); QRCS agents at malls and shopping centres; online (www.qrces.org.qa); transfer via Barwa Bank (IBAN: QA26BRWA000000000100000002005); and SMS with “W” to the following numbers: 92216 (QR100), 92402 (QR150), 92552 (QR250), 92869 (QR350) and 92092 (QR500).
Relief assistance being provided by QRCS volunteers.
