Humanitarian Assistance in Syria’s neighboring countries
The number of people who have fled from Syria to the neighboring countrieshas meanwhile risen to over 4.8 million. Most of the refugees have fled toTurkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. The German Red Cross, together with itspartner national societies, is providing humanitarian assistance to the refugeesin those countries trying to cover at least the basic needs by providing food,medicaments and other lifesaving relief items.
The conflict in Syria has become the biggest humanitarian disaster worldwide with majoreffects on the neighboring countries where many Syrians have fled to, seeking refuge andprotection. While part of the refugees in the neighboring countries is living in refugee campsor in host communities, the majority of them are living in makeshift shelters, tentedsettlements or in abandoned buildings.
The challenges in the entire region are huge:
- Food shortage
- Increasing shortage of potable water
- Increasing sanitary and hygiene problems due to missing waste management
- Increased spread of diseases and at the same time dramatic aggravation of medical care and assistance
- Difficult energy and fuel supply
- Decrease in agricultural production resulting in difficulties in the provision of food and rising prices
- Continuous worsening of the humanitarian situation (more and more people depend on humanitarian assistance, less economic activity)
- Aggravated access to the people In need
