Wednesday 30 January 2013
Earlier this month UNICEF UK requested a contribution for the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission towards is emergency response appeal to provide vital equipment and supplies that will see children and families through the worst of the winter, including warm clothing and bedding.
In their application UNICEF explained,
"Almost 600,000 Syrian refugees have been forced to flee from Syria as a result of the conflict in Syria- more than half of these refugees are children.
Recent extreme weather, including heavy rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures- has made conditions dire in the camps; many of these camps have been flooded and are covered in snow. Many of the children were only wearing summer clothes when they fled Syria and have nothing to protect them from the winter temperatures.
There is an urgent need to provide vulnerable Syrian children, especially those under 5, with appropriate winter clothing, shoes, blankets, tents, vaccines and emergency healthcare to prevent hyperthermia and dehydration.
UNICEF is currently providing urgent emergency assistance across Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, including vaccinating children against life-threatening disease, providing clean water and education, and care for children who have experienced trauma. We have also reached more than 250,000 people with winter supplies to help keep them warm during the harsh weather conditions."
In considering the request, the Commissioners were mindful that the situation in Syria appears to have significantly worsened since the start of 2013 and the number of refugees crossing the Syrian borders into Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iran has risen dramatically in the last two weeks.
The Commissioners were also very conscious that because of the political situation in Syria it is difficult and often unsafe for many aid agencies to work within the country itself. In reaching its decision, the Commissioners sought advice from the Disaster Emergency Committee in respect of the humanitarian situation in Syria.
The DEC advised the Commissioners,
"We extremely concerned about the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria and for refugees fleeing the conflict. Together with 10 of our 14 member agencies who are currently providing aid in the region, actively evaluating the situation against our appeal criteria. We do not anticipate any improvement in the current situation in the foreseeable future."
Deputy Mike O'Hara, Commission Chairman, said,
"In agreeing to make a donation of £25,000 to UNICEF's work to provide emergency relief to Syrian refugee children, the Commissioners were very conscious that these children are especially vulnerable and have often fled in fear of their lives with their families and have nothing but the clothes they are wearing.
The Commissioners believe that the situation in Syria is desperate and the need for emergency aid immediate and so have decided that, in this case, it should make a contribution to UNICEF's work rather than wait and see if the DEC launches an appeal.
I am sure Islanders will support the Commission's decision to make this donation to assist UNICEF's work in the Syrian border regions."
Contact Details
Elizabeth Dene, Secretary to the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission
Telephone - 01481 717284
Email - liz.dene@gov.gg
