QC appeals for urgent winter aid for internally displaced Syrians, Iraqis and refugees
As the predictions indicate that the 2021-2022 winter season will be difficult for the Syrian and Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, especially due to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, support from donors, companies, and philanthropists is more urgently needed, Qatar Charity (QC) said yesterday.
The early support will contribute to avoiding many risks facing them, especially in times of severe cold, heavy rains and snowfall, which are expected within the next three months, a QC statement explained.
“There are over 10mn Syrian and Iraqi IDPs and refugees in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. UNHCR estimates that 3.3mn people are in need of critical assistance to help them prepare for and cope during the forthcoming winter,” according to UNHCR Regional Winterisation Assistance Plan 20212022: Syria and Iraq Situations.
“This will be the 11th consecutive winter in displacement for some, and many continue to face increased hardships due to the economic situation and the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“UNHCR requires $193.4mn to provide life-saving winterisation assistance for people in need before the onset of the harsh and challenging winter season. As of August 2021, and thanks to timely and generous contributions from donors, these requirements are 56% funded, leaving a gap of $84.2mn,” said the report.
The displaced and refugees live in substandard accommodations and are unable to afford the additional costs of fuel and warm clothes, and they, therefore, have to make very challenging decisions like cutting back on spending on basic necessities like food and medicines.
The worsening situation of the displaced and refugees requires everyone to support them by delivering quick aid to them and meeting their basic needs through winter campaigns, which are launched by humanitarian organisations to protect these people from any imminent dangers.
The winter needs of the refugees, who often flee home with just the clothes they wear, include adequate shelters, tents, warm clothes, blankets, fuel, food, medicines, and medical supplies.
The QC statement also referred to the 2018-winter tragedy in which six members of a Syrian refugee family froze to death in the snow on the Lebanese border. Besides, another 16 displaced Syrians froze to death in the same year while trying to enter Lebanon.
“This painful memory automatically leads to the importance of early reminders of meeting the basic needs of the displaced and refugees globally, who have to face extremely cold months in winter, due to temperatures dropping below zero, as well as storms and heavy rains that engulf their tents and damage their modest homes and camps,” the statement added.