Two thousand more Syrian families will receive much-needed assistance thanks to World Renew and funding from the International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) Directorate of the Canadian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), formerly known as CIDA.
Two thousand more Syrian families will receive much-needed assistance thanks to World Renew and funding from the International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) Directorate of the Canadian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), formerly known as CIDA.
“In September, World Renew was advised that DFATD had approved $1 million in funding for our project to provide non-food items and rental assistance for families who are displaced within Syria,” said Ken Little, World Renew’s Senior Project Manager for the response in Syria. The funding was formally announced by the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development, yesterday.
“We are grateful for this generous grant, which goes a long way to meeting the project budget of $1.4 million, and we are pleased by what it will enable us to do in response to the urgent needs in Syria,” said Little.
World Renew is adding to this support from the Canadian government with donations from individuals and other organizations.
Since the outbreak of violence in Syria in March 2011, the humanitarian situation there has continued to deteriorate. Armed violence, human rights violations, and the increasing lack of access to food, water and medical assistance have had a horrific impact on the local, civilian population. Two million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries to seek safety as refugees. Millions more have fled their homes but remain within Syria.
Experts estimate that there are over 4.25 million such “internally displaced people” in Syria. In some cases, these families have been displaced multiple times as their subsequent places of refuge were also affected by violence. When they do find a safe place to live, they still face skyrocketing prices for food, rent, and other household needs.
As winter approaches, the needs of these families are increasing. Many are living in schools or other abandoned buildings. They sleep on the cold ground with little to protect them from the cold, winter weather. They also lack basic supplies for things like cooking and cleaning.
Combined with your support, the DFATD-funded project of World Renew will provide these families with cooking utensils, mattresses and winter blankets, as well as six months’ worth of cooking fuel, hygiene supplies and rental assistance.
In addition to this program, World Renew is also providing food and other assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. In total, World Renew’s response to the Syrian conflict now totals nearly $3 million in programming.
“The crisis in Syria shows no signs of winding down,” said Little. “We are grateful for the generosity of the Canadian government as well as numerous individuals and institutions that have enabled us to meet the many needs of the Syrian people.”
Please continue to keep this situation in your prayers. Pray for the innocent civilians affected by the crisis in Syria, and for World Renew’s partners and the local churches through whom this assistance is being provided.
Financial support for World Renew’s Syria response, to supplement the funds received from the Canadian government, is urgently needed.
