Humanitarian crisis in Syria: ‘Giving Hope through Solidarity 2011-2015’
Monday, March 30, 2015
It has been four years since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. This humanitarian crisis now affects more than 12 million people, not counting the 3.5 million Syrian refugees who have fled mostly to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) has contributed more than $13 million to projects for Syria, including funds from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. In a special report entitled “Crisis in Syria: Giving Hope through Solidarity“, CCODP outlines the projects it has supported since 2012, directly helping 80,000 families through its Caritas network partners in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.
Development and Peace has also launched an online petition for peace in Syria. The campaign is asking the Government of Canada to take action to ensure the safety and needs of Syrian civilians, and to make greater efforts for an inclusive peace process in the country.
Two other Canadian Catholic organizations are also raising funds to help support Syrian refugees: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) – Canada, and CNEWA Canada.
In a news release published in March 2015, ACN reports that since the beginning of the Syrian conflict it has raised $ 8,675,000 in emergency aid.
Also in a news release published during March, CNEWA Canada announced that as of February 26 it had sent “$45,000 in emergency aid to Syria’s Assyrian Church of the East to help 900 families that have left their homes, fleeing the Islamic State that has taken over Hassekeh, a predominantly Christian area north of Syria on the border of Iraq.”