Now is time to help all the Syrians

It's been just over a year since a devastating earthquake hit Syria and Turkey, and the situation for Syrian families and children remains unimaginably tough. Many Syrians who suffered through the earthquake are still trying to pick up the pieces in a country already torn apart by war.

Aid has been dwindling while needs have skyrocketed – leaving millions of Syrians in dire need of support. The earthquake claimed more than 50,000 lives and uprooted countless families, stealing their homes and livelihoods. In its wake, the number of Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance has surged from 15.3 million to 16.7 million. It's heartbreaking when we think of all the people who could have been saved if rescue teams had arrived on time or if the world hadn't turned its back on them.   

Syria has also been grappling with renewed conflict, a severe economic crisis, and climate change-related disasters that have only made things worse for the survivors. The ongoing economic crisis fueled by sanctions has many Syrians barely surviving, as necessities become luxuries due to skyrocketing inflation. The disastrous earthquake is just one of the many struggles Syrians have faced this past year, and the lack of mental health support has left almost 70 percent of children dealing with fear, sadness and depression.

Despite all these challenges, our charity has been working hard to provide medicine and food to families in need. For Ramadan, we have just distributed 100 food baskets; however, there are many more families who still need our help. To alleviate their struggles, even just a bit, our organization would like to donate two bottles of cooking oil to a lot more families.

We are also distributing medicines as it is one of the necessities that have recently gone up in price the most; just in 2023, the Syrian pound has lost nearly 60 percent of its value to the dollar. This winter we  focus on antibiotics and life saving medicines.

The world is of course a more fragile place today than it was a year ago, and Syria is among a growing number of countries grappling with multiple crises.

However, we cannot forget the ongoing struggles of the Syrian children. They deserve to grow up feeling safe, dignified, and hopeful for their future. Let's continue to stand by their side and offer our help in any way we can.