The first Syrian refugees who fled violence in their home country began arriving in Turkey ten years ago. A trickle soon turned into an influx. As of today, Turkey is home to more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees, a majority of the over 4 million refugees and asylum seekers currently living in the country, making Turkey the world’s largest host of refugees.
A heavily snow-covered region near the Turkey/Syria border poses a constant challenge for Syrian refugees seeking shelter in refugee camps.
As a result, refugees living in makeshift tents made from sugar sacks and cardboard have moved to shelters that have heating, such as a stove.
The Syrian refugees generally burn trash, plastic, or whatever they can find to generate heat and to fill their tents with smoke. They conceded that the practice likely posed a health risk, but she had no choice but to try and keep her children warm.
A heavily snow-covered region near the Turkey/Syria border poses a constant challenge for Syrian refugees seeking shelter in refugee camps.
As a result, refugees living in makeshift tents made from sugar sacks and cardboard have moved to shelters that have heating, such as a stove.
The Syrian refugees generally burn trash, plastic, or whatever they can find to generate heat and to fill their tents with smoke. They conceded that the practice likely posed a health risk, but she had no choice but to try and keep her children warm.
One local clinic also reported that it was treating about five to six children a day with pneumonia, and fevers with extremely high temperatures. MWF’s operations manager, Mr. Adnan said MWF decided to focus on women and children refugees for the winter aid distribution because they are among the most vulnerable and cannot access any assistance.
About 200,000 people have fled civil war in Syria and sought refuge in Turkey near border areas. Thousands remain unregistered. Some hope to register soon while others perceive registration as a threat to their safety or the safety of family members still in Syria. More than 730,000 Syrians have sought refuge across the region since the civil uprising in March 2011.
Winter Aid Distribution To Syrian Refugees
Millions of forcibly displaced people face significantly worse living conditions every winter due to cold weather. About 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in temporary camps with fragile shelters near the Turkish-Syrian border, half of whom are children.
This winter, Managing Director, Minhaj Welfare Foundation, Faisal Hussain and Team MWF are on the ground delivering emergency winter relief to families in Syrian refugee camps near the Turkey/Syrian border.
We need your help to prepare these families to make it through the harsh winter. Your donations are already providing food packs, warm clothes, blankets and medical supplies to poor Syrian children. But we need your extended support to make sure no one is left at the mercy of severe cold weather.
READ MORE: WINTER AID DISTRIBUTION
How you can help
Your support for the Winter Appeal will enable MWF to help children and their families affected by this conflict. Donate today to help families gain access to food, blankets, warm clothing, fuel and personal hygiene items.
