Red Cross Delivers Essential Aid to Besieged Syrian Towns

Red Cross Delivers Essential Aid to Besieged Syrian Towns

Red Cross has delivered vital aid to besieged Syrian towns, but says more help is needed for thousands still living in the war-torn country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), working alongside the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the United Nations, started delivering aid this week to thousands of people living in three besieged areas in Syria.

Food, medical items, blankets and other materials have been delivered by convoy to Madaya in rural Damascus, and Foua and Kefraya near the city of Idlib. Red Cross will concentrate on delivering medical assistance.

Rachel O’Connor, who coordinates Red Cross’ refugee resettlement programme in New Zealand, says the organisation has been overwhelmed by the incredible response to the Syrian crisis, with hundreds of Kiwis volunteering to help resettlement in New Zealand.

Because of the immense scale of the crisis, she says it’s important people still living in Syria are not forgotten.

“Millions of people have lost their homes. Food and water supplies have been disrupted, and schools and hospitals have been destroyed.

“What we’re hearing from Syrian families here in New Zealand is that they’re very concerned about the wellbeing of friends and relatives still in Syria.”

There has been growing international concern about the suffering of thousands of people in besieged towns like Madaya. There are more than 400,000 people living in besieged areas across Syria.

Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, says the aid operation is a very positive development, but it must not be a one-off distribution.

“The suffering is intense. Aid agencies must be given safe and unimpeded access to all these people to provide them with the aid they need, especially now in the midst of winter.”

There are believed to be around 40,000 people in Madaya and around 20,000 people in Foua and Kefraya. The operation has been brokered by the United Nations with the agreement of the different parties on the ground.

People can donate to the New Zealand Red Cross appeal to support those affected by the crisis in Syria, and people seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and across Europe, at redcross.org.nz/donate.

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