Syrian Refugee Relief Fund

As the Syrian civil war shows no sign of slowing down, it has become increasingly dangerous for humanitarian aid organizations to safely continue their work within Syria. As a result, the number of aid workers has dwindled. Many are refocusing their efforts on Syrian refugees outside of Syria, in places like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Greece, and throughout Europe. We’re proud to say that our partners have never wavered in their commitment to protecting Syrian refugees, wherever they are, by ensuring they have access to food, shelter, education, medical treatment, and all-around support.

Some of our partners have decided that their resources are best spent within Syria, showing an impressive dedication to the 7.4 million Syrians displaced within their own country. In the last few months alone, these organizations have faced immense challenges, but the support from the GlobalGiving community has strengthened their ability to help keep Syrian refugees safe.

Mercy Corps is feeding more than 100,000 Syrians near Aleppo by providing vouchers for something simple: bread, a staple in a typical Syrian diet. Mercy Corps is also importing flour for local bakeries so bakers can have reliable incomes.

Save the Children is on the front lines with emergency kits, food, blankets, and cash grants for families in Aleppo and Idlib. They were one of the first organizations to respond to Syrians fleeing Aleppo during the siege in December of 2016.

Syrian Forum USA is a new partner raising funds to deliver clothes, heating fuel, and blankets to those in Syria facing a harsh winter.

International Rescue Committee helped evacuate people from Aleppo during the December siege. Teams in Idlib addressed Syrians’ medical needs and provided food, shelter, and cash to desperate families.

CARE is renovating two water treatment plants near Aleppo. They are also providing food, hygiene and baby kits, dignity kits for the elderly, cash assistance, and kitchen sets for families displaced within Syria. CARE’s psychosocial support programs help Syrians cope with their experiences of war, trauma, and violence.  

Libraries Without Borders is another new GlobalGiving partner working with Yale School of Medicine to provide medical students in Aleppo with digital medical textbooks. By investing in Syria’s future doctors and nurses, we can avoid a lost generation of students and work toward a brighter future for Syria.

All of these projects—as well as those working with refugees outside of Syria—are benefitting from your support of the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund. No matter where the war takes Syria in the coming months, we are confident that the GlobalGiving community with continue to stand with refugees.

Thank you for your generosity in helping our partners heal, nourish, and protect Syrian refugees all over the world. With nearly 8,000 donors to the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund, including almost 150 people giving monthly, it’s no surprise that our partners are able to impact the lives of so many people.

Over the past two years, your donations to the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund have helped nonprofits on the ground in places like Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey provide immediate relief to communities of refugees! Since our last report, two GlobalGiving staff members, Emily and Rachel, visited three of the projects benefitting from your donations! Today we want to share with you the impactful work our staff travelers witnessed on their trip in Greece. You can also get to know the powerful individual stories they encountered in “Tea for Refugees” here.

Their first stop was a visit to KID & FAMILY in Athens.

KID & FAMILY works to feed children and save as many lives as possible. They provide food, water, medical care, and personal essentials directly to the people as they arrive on the beaches of the islands. Emily and Rachel saw their gift shop stocked full of discounted everyday items and met with their volunteer psychologists working with children impacted psychologically by the war. You can hear more about the impact your donations are making for theses children by checking out their project reports.

Next the GlobalGiving team went to the Emfasis Foundation and were astounded by the compassion the foundation is showing the refugee community.

Emfasis focuses on allowing vulnerable refugee communities become independent. Their goal is to empower, coach, mentor, and provide resources to these people through a street outreach program targeting areas that may otherwise be overlooked. Emfasis’ current project focuses on healing through photography. You can learn more about their innovative programs and impact on their project page.

Finally, Emily and Rachel traveled to Risona, Greece and visited Echo100plus. 

Echo100plus mission is to provide everyday needs to refugees living in the camps. Our staff was able to see their work first hand in a camp that is home to 180 families. When a refugee arrives to the camp, Echo100plus provides a welcome packet that explains the layout of the camp, the hours of the meals, and when distributions for supplies occur. They are also provided with a tent, clothing, cooking utensils, and hygienic products. To learn more about how your are making an impact on families in the camp check out their project page.

“Tea for Refugees” brings to life further how your donations are impacting those most greatly affected by the crisis. Thank you for your generosity and kindness!