In response to the worsening situation facing millions of people fleeing the conflict in Syria, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has revised its existing emergency appeals to assist those who have fled into the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
An initial appeal of 4.6 million Swiss francs, launched in January 2013, to assist those fleeing to Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq has now been increased to 27.4 million Swiss francs. A separate appeal for refugees fleeing north into Turkey, initially launched in November 2012, has been revised from 32.3 million Swiss francs to 44.1 million Swiss francs.
Since the beginning of the crisis, UNHCR has said that more than 1.5 million people have fled the violence in Syria, most of whom have fled to the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
Current estimates suggest a total of 450,000 people have fled Syria into Lebanon; 339,000 of these are registered with UNHCR. Some 60 per cent are living in rented dwellings, while 35 per cent receive shelter from host families throughout the country. However, the rapidly escalating crisis has led to the creation of over 400 spontaneous settlements in various areas of the country, mostly in and around the Bekaa Valley.
“The staff and volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross are extremely experienced and are trying to access refugees sheltering in all areas of the country. Many of the refugees are living in host communities or abandoned shelters in the mountains, so we are concerned some of them have not yet had access to food aid or urgent medical assistance,” said Georges Kettaneh, Secretary General of the Lebanese Red Cross.
The IFRC continues to support the health activities led by the Lebanese Red Cross, providing medicines, ambulances and psychosocial support. Urgent cases of wounded Syrians continue to cross into Lebanon and many of these are transported by the Lebanese Red Cross emergency services for surgery in hospitals in northern Lebanon. Emergency medical teams from the Lebanese Red Cross need more support to assist a further 50,000 people across the country.
Nearly half a million Syrians are now refugees in Jordan, making up a third of the 1.5 million people who have fled to neighbouring countries. In addition to the number of people registered with UNHCR in Jordan, a further 55,000 are awaiting registration. The Jordanian Red Crescent Society (JRCS) has been focusing its response on the 70 per cent of Syrian refugees living with host families. Funds from the appeal will assist the Jordanian Red Crescent Society to provide 50,000 people living with host families with services such medical care, counselling, employment guidance, as well as cash assistance.
“The JRCS staff and volunteers are working with the many Syrian refugees residing with host families in Jordan,” said Dr Mohamed Al Hadid, President of the Jordanian Red Crescent Society. “As more people arrive and households become crowded, pressure on all those involved is not far from reaching breaking point,” he added. “This situation is getting worse and it's not going away. It's terribly sad that these people have left behind their homes and their jobs and face a very uncertain future.”
As of May 2013, a total of 143,177 people had fled Syria into Iraq, with over 95 per cent seeking refuge in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Approximately 4,000 refugees have involuntarily returned to Syria due to movement restrictions. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) was the first humanitarian organization to respond to the needs of Syrian refugees and Iraqi returnees. The IRCS distributed food parcels, non-food items, hygiene kits, and provided first aid and psychosocial services to Syrian refugees in Domiz camp, in Erbil governorate, Kirkuk city and on the Al- Qa’im and Al Rabyaa borders.
The IRCS plans to increase its intervention to refugees not covered under the current relief efforts, as well as intensify water and sanitation, psychosocial support and preventive health activities. “The conditions of the refugees in Iraq have strained the health situation in Iraq mainly in the areas of women’s health, respiratory illness, chronic diseases and diarrhoea among children,” said Dr Yassin Al Ammoury, the President of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.
In November 2012, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal for more than 32 million Swiss francs to support the Turkish Red Crescent, which has provided support over the winter in terms of food, non-food items, shelter and sanitation to over 100,000 “temporary protected persons” in 17 camps, and contingency stocks for a further 50,000 people. The Turkish Red Crescent has also worked in close cooperation with UNHCR on shelter and with the World Food Programme on an e-card programme to allow refugees the freedom to buy much-needed household supplies and food. The revised appeal for Turkey has been increased from 32 million Swiss francs to 44.1 million Swiss francs to support the humanitarian needs of 225,000 people until December 2013. Please see the fact sheet on Turkey for more detailed information.
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