International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Appeals via the Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)

Published purpose

September 2013 - The humanitarian situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated over the past year as a result of the civil war in the country. The United Nations estimates that 100,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands more wounded, due to the violence. Within Syria, some 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 4.25 million of whom are internally displaced. In addition, more than 2 million Syrian refugees are living in host countries in the region. By the end of 2013, the United Nations estimates that 10 million people in Syria will need humanitarian assistance and a further 3.55 million refugees from Syria will have fled to host countries, where resources are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people needing assistance. With the support of DFATD and other donors, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is assisting the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to deliver immediate assistance to up to 258,465 crisis-affected people in the region. Project activities include the provision of: emergency health care; psychosocial support; water and sanitation facilities; non-food relief items such as bedding, cooking supplies and clothing; financial assistance to help people pay rent; and hygiene kits. The IFRC is also working to improve the ability of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to prepare for disasters and do contingency planning.