The World Health Organization said on Wednesday [15th Feb, 2023] it was particularly concerned over the welfare of people in northwestern Syria, a rebel-held region with little access to aid, since the earthquakes struck last week.'
(Reuters, 2023)

Currently, it is reported that over 6,000 individuals have been killed amidst the destruction across Syria, and a further 9,000 injured. The result of this earthquake leaves over 5.3 million people homeless, although those on the ground express these figures are due to increase. As rebel-held areas, densely populated with displaced individuals reliant on shelter in settlements, the area is in dire need of humanitarian assistance (Dhingra, 2023; Plan International, 2023)

The difficulties of getting aid across the boarders highlights the need for assistance to be distributed in networks on ground. I have selected the Hands Up Foundation for this reason, as they have direct links with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) and Physicians Across Continents (PAC), as well as other independent emergency and medical aid organizations operating on ground level. 

Updates for their work can be seen on their instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thehandsupfoundation/)

Donations go towards the necessities required on site. The organization has detailed the current requirements are:

• post traumatic critical care ( eg. dialysis kits)
• baby products ( eg. baby milk)
• lab consumables ( eg. syringes)
• orthopedic consumables ( eg. surgical equipment)
• salaries for medical staff

All donations go to the requirements for immediate and emergency care for all survivors, and those harmed in the disasters.

Although there is a provisional target set, I am just hopeful this fundraiser will raise as much as possible, so an additional matched contribution can be made by the firm I work in. Any and all contributions would be massively appreciated, and make the world of a difference

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Further Information on the Critical State in Syria:

Syria already experiences one of the worst humanitarian crisis, after years of civil unrest. The northern, and north-western regions is home to 4.6 million internally displaced individuals (IDPs), with 90% of the population relying on humanitarian aid to survive on a day to day. 

The map below shows the extent of the aftershock reach. 

(BBC, 2023)

As the area is densely populated with IDPs, the majority of these individuals reside in official and unofficial settlements, within shelters. Following years of war, the current situation for building infrastructure is incredible poor, with ruins of buildings at best. This earthquake not only further incriminated the livelihoods of IDPs, but also further disintegrated the grounds they reside on. 

One of the main requirements across Syria is medical aid. With the earthquake bringing in dire need for medical assistance, this is the main aid being required by Syrians, as they have limited access to supplies and medical professionals.

(BBC News, 2023; Dhingra, 2023; Al Jazeera News, 2023; Gritten, 2023)

BBC News (2023). First UN aid convoy enters quake-hit Syria via new crossing. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64645329 

 Dhingra, D. (2023) Northwestern Syria needs humanitarian assistance. Getting it there must be a priority. [online] Brookings. Available at: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/02/08/northwestern-syria-needs-humanitarian-assistance-getting-it-there-must-be-a-priority/

Gritten, D. (2023). Turkey-Syria earthquake: Satellite images show Jindayris devastation. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64643790 [Accessed 17 Feb. 2023].

‌Plan International. (2023). Syria Earthquake Appeal - Plan International. [online] Available at: https://plan-international.org/emergencies/syria-earthquake-appeal/ 

‌Reuters (2023). Northwest Syria of ‘greatest concern’ after quake -WHO. [online] Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-says-it-asked-syrias-assad-open-border-crossings-2023-02-15/

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