SOS Children’s Villages worldwide
Damascus / Munich (ots)
Children have lost their parents, thousands of families have been made homeless by the devastating earthquakes and are in urgent need of shelter, food, medicine and access to water. “Help is urgently needed. We are appealing for donations!” says Barbara Gruner, director of SOS Children’s Villages worldwide.
Even before the disaster, children and families in the affected areas of Syria were living in an extreme situation: the infrastructure was largely destroyed, the food situation and medical care were miserable, and millions of war refugees were housed in makeshift shelters. “Now people are in shock, busy looking for family members under the rubble. They don’t have a roof over their heads and the temperatures are below freezing,” says Gruner.
“Our greatest concern is for children and families. Having been burdened by a long civil war, they no longer have any strength. The earthquake is a blow that they cannot survive on their own,” Gruner continued.
Unprecedented challenge
The SOS Children’s Villages have been continuously active in Syria for 40 years. Even when the war, which is still ongoing today, broke out in 2011, the organization remained on site. Since then, the range of assistance has expanded. The organization currently runs two SOS Children’s Villages in Syria and supports families through so-called family strengthening programs and young people in supervised residential groups.
“Fortunately, the children and families we look after, as well as our colleagues, are unharmed, they are doing according to the circumstances,” says Gruner. Nevertheless: “We, as an aid organization that is well established in Syria, are also facing an unprecedented challenge.”
It is now a matter of doing everything possible to strengthen and protect families and children. “We set up emergency shelters, take care of abandoned children, create safer places, ensure that families are cared for and provide the psychological help that is so important. We need all our strength for that!” says Gruner.
Concrete relief measures by SOS Children’s Villages in the earthquake area in Syria:
- Assisting in the evacuation of children and families
- Support for abandoned children and help with family reunification
- Provision/organization of emergency accommodation
- Provision of food and hygiene items
- Psychological emergency aid
- Safe places for children (Child Friendly Spaces)
- Financial support
Please help!
Together we can help children and families in Syria. Please support our emergency aid. Thanks very much!
DONATION ACCOUNT:
Key word: Syria: Help for earthquake victims
SOS Children’s Villages worldwide
IBAN: DE22 4306 0967 2222 2000 00
GLS community bank
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
Press contact:
For more information please contact:
Boris Breyer
press secretary
SOS Children’s Villages worldwide
Phone: 0160 – 984 723 45
Email: [email protected]
www.sos-kinderdoerfer.de
Original content from: SOS Children’s Villages worldwide, transmitted by news aktuell
