Humairaa Mayet | 2 April 2021
A Syrian family in a refugee camp in Aleppo, Syria. Picture: Flickr
The humanitarian crisis in Syria has reached unprecedented proportions. Syrian men, women, and children are facing extreme difficulty and strife. Many have been deemed refugees and live in conditions of squalor, cramped into camps with little to no access to food, water, and sanitation.
In an interview with Salaamedia, Barrister Ibtihal Bsis discussed the parameters of the dire situation. The people of Syria are pained and impoverished, and suffering greatly in the face of the political upheaval underway in the country.
24 million Syrians in the Middle East are in dire need of basic necessities, and many of them are now in a crisis within a crisis; with the coronavirus spreading through the country.
The United Nations, in collaboration with a number of international donors, has raised $6.4 billion – equating to approximately R94 billion – to aid Syrian refugees as the crisis persists and their needs soar.
Ever since the conflict, and the subsequent humanitarian crisis, began; the United Nations has consistently worked with international actors, raising money to cater to the extensive needs of Syrian refugees. These funds are used to provide refugees with shelter, food, water, and medical supplies.
As the economy takes a nosedive and the conflict continues unhindered, now more than ever Syrian refugees are in need of assistance. Ever since 2011, the need for humanitarian aid has been gradually increasing and now, 10 years into the conflict, it has reached an all time high.
Peace seems far-fetched at this point, with warring sides viciously competing for territory and prowess. The conflict is likely to go on for months, if not years, to come and it is Syrian civilians who will pay the ultimate price.
Watch the full interview here:
