Renewal of Cross-Border Aid Mechanism Promises Little Relief for War-Displaced Syrians.
Quoted from "HiHFAD's Advocacy Contribution to a Media Report for Arab News Agency"
In previous years, families burned wood, coal and pistachio shells to heat their tents. This year, amid a nationwide fuel shortage, even these basics have become scarce, leading many to burn trash and anything else they can find.
“Inhaling fumes from burning plastic, manure and coal is harmful and often results in children falling ill,” a spokesperson for the Hand in Hand for Aid and Development Foundation, a Syrian-British charity, said.
“The damp winter conditions, compounded by overcrowding and a lack of access to adequate sanitation, are likely to increase cases of respiratory infection, health issues from smoke inhalation and waterborne diseases.”
Hospitals operating near the camps “have recorded an increase in cases of bronchitis and lung damage in children,” the foundation’s spokesperson said.
“Without a proper response, this winter is likely to cause deaths from hypothermia or fires inside tents.”
Fires and noxious fumes are not the only threats facing camp communities over winter. Without sufficient drainage, sites are frequently flooded, destroying possessions, compounding cold conditions and breeding waterborne diseases.
According to the foundation spokesperson, storms and heavy rain destroyed more than 6,700 tents and damaged over 22,800 in camps across northwestern Syria.
According to HIHFAD, there were 83 suicides in the camps between early 2021 and mid-2022. Unless funding targets are met by donor nations and access via Bab Al-Hawa is guaranteed for longer than six months at a time, aid agencies warn they will lack the capacity to save lives and ease suffering in northern Syria.
A JOINTLY CONDUCTED FIELD TRIP TO SYRIA NORTHWEST WITH OUR KEY PARTNER MALTESER INTERNATIONAL
Field visits are one of our main duties and vital tools to keep us informed of the dire situation in northwest Syria and allow us to effectively supervise the emergency aid we provide on the ground, in collaboration with our esteemed partners and donors.
Sadly, it is still imperative to establish a regular advocacy campaign and multilevel efforts in order to obtain the most basic human rights for the people in northwest Syria such as safety, protection, health care, food, and education.
This is unthinkable for the majority of countries around the world but unfortunately, still the harsh reality in Syria!
Human rights are not up for negotiation!
It was a pleasure to have the senior management of our key partner on the ground Malteser International join the HiHFAD administration team on a field trip to Northwest Syria on Wednesday 27 July. The field trip was focused on visiting several facilities and central medical warehouses, as well as witnessing the current circumstances of the people living there, in order to achieve strengthening and improvement of the response.
#SyriaCrisis#Syria#NorthWestSyria
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF KALBEED PHC HAS OPENED ITS DOORS TO SERVE THE SYRIAN PEOPLE IN THE NORTHWEST REGION.
Since 2017, Kalbeed Center has provided comprehensive and integrated primary health care services to about 15 camps and residential compounds in Idlib’s northern countryside, making it one of the most important PHC facilities in the region. As the number of displaced people in northwestern Syria increased, it was essential to strengthen and expand the scope of health care. The HIHFAD just opened a new integrated facility with the goal of improving the quality of medical services.
The new centre includes 14 rooms, improving its capacity to treat patients with the most serious health needs, whether they are IDPs or HCs, resulting in better access to life-saving primary health care from qualified medical personnel. It also serves about 3300 people every month from the Kalbeed and surrounding camps, including displaced people of various genders (men, women, and children), as well as people with impairments.
Many services are provided at the center, including internal medicine clinics, gynecological and reproductive health clinic services for gynecological treatment diseases, monitoring malnutrition instances, and monitoring cases of malnutrition in children and pregnant, lactating women under the supervision of a nutritionist, as well as delivering community health education, Psychosocial support services to the most vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, and people with disabilities, in order to alleviate their suffering.
Also, there are treatment and follow-up services for patients with chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, etc.) in addition to writing the monthly prescription for their medications and nursing services, additionally, the center contains ambulance services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, lab unit services and referral system to other hospitals.
WOMEN IN THE FIELD: THE PRESSURE TO PRODUCE.
Besides the vulnerability induced by war and difficult conditions, the possibility of assaults and violations, and the general pressures of international misogyny, many women face massive pressure to live a more conventional life.
The Mind Field Platform holds a panel discussion via Zoom conference on the subject of WOMEN IN THE FIELD: THE PRESSURE TO PRODUCE with the participation of experienced speakers including Mrs. Wafa Alrakhtawan -the HIHFAD health programme officer- who will present an overview of Syrian women’s suffering over the previous decade.
Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 / 3:00 pm CET, 9:00 am EST
RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/bwN9vxQ1othK1f866
For more details, please do not hesitate to contact accounting@themindfield.world.
The HIHFAD Country Director's Participation in the EU Humanitarian Forum: Delivering Better Together – Diaspora Actors and The Humanitarian Ecosystem
Research on and engagement with diasporas has shown that diaspora organizations are multi-sectoral, fast responding actors who work transnationally, supporting their countries of origin. Having a connection and understanding of their country of origin or heritage and local context plays a vital role in humanitarian assistance where diaspora organizations often are part of the first response in the aftermath of a disaster.
They are also key actors when it comes to raising the alarm in times of crisis. Supporting diaspora as part of a broader humanitarian ecosystem play a key role in humanitarian responses and contributes to a better delivery by increasing the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of humanitarian responses. This talk will present the key findings and lessons learned from DEMAC case studies and real-time reviews of diaspora humanitarianism: who are diaspora humanitarian organizations? and what are key added values of diaspora actors and their humanitarian responses?
Within his speech, Mr. Fadi Al-Diri (The HIHFAD CD) was discussed the challenges that diaspora organizations face in terms of interaction with the communities they belong to and how they use social media platforms to communicate with them. However, he highlighted the vast needs and the difficulties of meeting every people’s requirements which is coincides with shifts in donor priorities and interests. “We aim to influence this by obtaining particular demands via private contributions and highlighting the importance of satisfying urgent needs while striking a balance between development and emergency response,” he said.
Watch the full session by clicking on the image below!
AN EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
The crisis in Syria is too large for any one organization, thus working in partnership and collaboration is crucial.
We are so proud to announce our new partnership with SAB – Souriyat Across Borders
Teamwork, collaboration and partnerships are vital to the success of our work in Syria.
STRIVING TIRELESSLY TO SAVE WHAT REMAINS FROM THE FUTURE!
However, she tried to settle in the Idlib camps, but the security situation there was unstable, so she moved to the Zaytoun camp near Azaz city, in the Aleppo countryside. Her husband used to work as a barber. Unfortunately, he could not get his equipment out due to their hurried evacuation because of the bombing. Fatima strives tirelessly to ensure that her children have a promising future.
Fatima’s family spend most of their days relying on humanitarian aid and hope that they will soon be able to return home and her husband gets work, even if it’s only a small barbershop job, to live independently and meet their necessities. HIHFAD, in partnership with the Japan Platform, provides hygiene kits, solid waste disposal, water supply, hygiene promotion, and prefabricated latrines services to Fatima’s family and 3,600 other displaced families in ten camps throughout Idlib and Azaz.
