This week’s airstrikes in Syria, across all sides of the conflict lines, particularly the one which hit the Hamama refugee camp, killing two children and three adults, serve as an unfortunate reminder that Syria still requires long-term and principled support from the international community amidst the realities of the ongoing hostilities, Action For Humanity says.
Action For Humanity, the parent NGO of Syria Relief, also state that humanitarian assistance, particularly assistance that supports long-term self-reliance, is needed now more than ever, yet Syria is slipping further down the political agenda.
From Action For Humanity’s Hani Habbal, who works with the NGO in northwest Syria:
“As of October 2023, northwest Syria is witnessing an uptick in hostilities, adding more to the suffering of those who have already experienced 12 years of conflict.
“A week of all-out conflict has been followed by an unenforced ceasefire. Civilians have been caught in the crossfire of the ongoing violence, which has seen the use of weapons that are internationally prohibited.
“This has resulted in around 100 deaths, and over 250 injuries. More than 46,000 civilians have been left to search once again for shelter. Violence has caused further damage to civilian infrastructure, which will have long-term impacts for the communities of northwest Syria.”
“In an area where 9 out of 10 IDPs have been displaced more than once, and people live in overcrowded accommodation, any attack on civilian infrastructure will continue to exacerbate deep rooted issues that feed into this cycle of trauma and further limit the self-reliance of Syrians in Northwest Syria.
“Syrians want to be self-reliant. The international community must take concrete steps to uphold international humanitarian law, condemning attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, while actively endorsing and engaging in early recovery initiatives that foster communities' long-term self-reliance.”:
“A recent survey commissioned by Action For Humanity and carried out by YouGov found that only 34% of adults in the UK had heard of the escalation in violence in northwest Syria; a number that is frustratingly low when we consider that tens of thousands have been impacted by this recent conflict.
Action For Humanity are calling all parties to the conflict to respect International Law and International Humanitarian Law. Intentional attacks on civilians, or attacks that do not distinguish between military targets and civilians, are prohibited under all circumstances.”
In addition to working in Syria, Action For Humanity is currently responding to the humanitarian crisis escalating in Gaza, where they have been present since 2021. Action For Humanity have a small team on the ground and are providing medical equipment and resources to hospitals, and food and non-food item vouchers to local communities in Gaza. Action For Humanity have another team fully supplied and ready to deliver assistance from the Egyptian border crossing in Rafah, once humanitarian access has been granted to the region.
Action For Humanity provides aid and assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters. We are the parent charity of Syria Relief, the UK’s largest Syria-focused humanitarian aid organisation. As an NGO we are guided by our drive to help others, not profit. Based in Manchester, Action For Humanity has operations in Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, the UK, and several other regions. We have operated throughout Syria for over a decade, responding to crises and developing communities. In 2022, Action For Humanity supported a remarkable 4.8 million people across the globe.
PRESS CONTACTS
Jake Marais PR and Communications, Action For Humanity
jacob.marais@actionforhumanity.org
07597 486270
