By the end of 2014, homeless Syrians will outnumber the few who still
have a roof over their heads
In the latest sad milestone for Syria, the United Nations has appealed
for US$6.5 billion -- the biggest amount in history ever requested for a single
humanitarian disaster. This comes as Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed
Al Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate, visited a UAE Red Crescent camp in Jordan to
explore collaborations that would reach the highest possible number of
desperate refugees.
Her Highness went further to tour the refugee school and playground, and
had heart-to-heart conversations with the children to hear their deepest needs,
hopes and fears. Meanwhile more women humanitarians have been inspired to visit
Jordan, with the Red Crescent welcoming a delegation of UAE women police
officers led by Major Amina Al Balushi, who will help to upgrade the medical
services.
Speaking to Red Crescent representatives, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher
said: “There is no such thing as ‘too many aid organizations’, because Syrian
refugees need all the help they can get. Having visited refugees in different
camps, I am proud to say the UAE Red Crescent’s campaign -- ‘Our Hearts Are
With The Syrian People’ -- is doing great work in serving the refugee families
in need. I wish to see the camp expand and provide refuge to even more refugee
families, which is what the Red Crescent team in Jordan is aiming to do. Thanks
to our very supportive UAE leadership, we are showing the world that now is not
the time for donor fatigue, but for whole-hearted sacrifice. Red Crescent
officials have assured me that they will continue to expand their work for
greater impact and will collaborate with other international organisations,
specially UNHCR, to reach refugees in other camps and help in providing shelter
for families and educational facilities for refugee children outside the Red
Crescent camp. I have full faith in the abilities of Red Crescent to take on
this great task and believe that they will lead the path in collaborating with
other organisations working in Jordan to increase the impact of humanitarian
aid on the Syrian refugee population.”
A living example of this selfless sacrifice is Dr Saif Al Kaabi, an
Emirati who has volunteered for the Red Crescent’s missions in Jordan, Yemen
and Pakistan. He explained why: “I left behind my comfortable life and job in
Abu Dhabi because these suffering refugees need me more. This is not something
you do for your CV; it’s something you do for your heart, and for your fellow
humankind.”
Like the Big Heart Campaign, the UAE Red Crescent was instrumental in
saving countless refugees from the freezing winter, raising over AED120 million
from telethons and other fundraisers. Led by its Chairman, Dr Hamdan Musalam Al
Mazrouei, the organization has sent 18 consignments from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
and Lebanon; including over 3,000 tons of food, shelter and medical supplies
for the UAE-Jordan Camp at Mreejab Al Fohood and Zaatari Refugee Camp.
Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres has
warned that by the end of the year, internally displaced and refugee Syrians
will outnumber the few Syrians who are lucky enough to still have a home.
Donors are urgently requested to send funds through ‘Salam Ya Seghar’,
endorsed by HH Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi (Wife of His Highness, the Ruler of
Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate).
Bank Details:
Account Name: Salam
Ya Seghar “For Syrian Refugee Children”
Account Number: 00344 3043 0012
(Kindly write the
bank account number behind your cheque)
IBAN: AE5804 100000 3443043 0012
The Executive
Office of HH Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi
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