Amman, Jordan/Beirut, Lebanon (October 29, 2013) - As the harsh winter approaches the Middle East, CARE International calls for the immediate support for millions of refugees in order that they can protect themselves from the cold weather in the coming months. “As the conflict has entered its third year, the coping strategies of the Syrian population become more and more limited,” says Salam Kanaan, Country Director for CARE in Jordan. “Most of the refugees do not have any resources left to prepare for the coming winter. Some of them have told us that they had to sell their blankets from last year to buy food for their children or life-saving medication. Now they are left with nothing”, Kanaan says.
More than three quarter of the more than 550.000 refugees in Jordan live in overcrowded houses or makeshift tents in urban settings. In Lebanon most of the more than 800.000 Syrian refugees live in informal settlements and rented apartments, struggling to meet increasing costs for rent, food and medication. “We are talking about families who have already lost everything. Many of them live with more than 20 people in small rooms or empty garages, the windows are broken, they don’t have any furniture,” says Bernard Borkhosh, CARE Country Director in Lebanon. “Refugees cannot afford to buy heaters, blankets or winter clothes. If families do not receive any help, they will suffer from severe illnesses. Especially for the elderly, disabled and for children the cold can do serious harm,” Borkhosh says.
In the coming weeks, CARE will help families in Lebanon and Jordan to cope during the winter, distributing cash as well as heaters, blankets, weatherproofing kits and fuel to refugees. Over the past months, CARE in Jordan has registered more than 150.000 refugees in its urban centers in Amman, Mafraq, Irbid and Zarqa and has supported them with psycho-social and financial support. CARE staff and volunteers, who are refugees themselves, provide cash assistance to pay for basic living costs, including rent, food and other essential relief items. They also assist with vital information on how refugees can access further health care and social support. CARE has identified 27.000 out of the most vulnerable refugees and will provide them with cash assistance to buy blankets, heaters, fuel and warm clothing. “The refugee families themselves know best, what they need to stay warm and how they can spend the money most effectively,” Kanaan explains. CARE will also provide families with well-being kits, including soap, cleaning liquids and sanitary napkins. To date, less than 25 per cent of the total US Dollar 100 million required for CARE’s response to the Syria Crisis has been funded.
According to latest UN estimates, the number of people in need of humanitarian aid both within Syria and the neighbouring countries has reached a staggering nine million. Almost one-third of the Syrian population has been displaced. “CARE and other organizations are working hard to meet the needs of millions of refugees. However, more is needed to meet the growing needs of refugees during the winter,” urges Kanaan.
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. CARE has been working in Jordan since 1948. CARE Jordan has extensive experience working with refugees, providing livelihood training and opportunities, emergency cash assistance, information sharing and psychosocial support to Iraqi refugees since 2003.
Media Contacts:
Johanna Mitscherlich (Amman), [email protected], +962 779967772
Read more about CARE's response to the Syrian refugee crisis