Syria crisis: CAFOD partner says thousands killed and injured
A doctor treats patients at a mobile clinic
In one of the parks of the Syrian capital Damascus, a mother and child try to survive the freezing cold outdoor temperatures under a blanket.
They are just two of over three million people who have had to leave their homes. Some have stayed within Syria but others have fled to neighbouring countries. Each day, many people live in fear of dying in a car bomb, having members of their families raped, or quite simply not being able to find enough food.
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Tens of thousands of people have been killed and injured in the fighting in Syria. Inside Syria, the conflict has caused food shortages and what food is available comes at a high price. The price of bread has tripled over two months. The economy has also collapsed under pressure from the war and an embargo. What savings people had, have long since gone as the crisis enters its second year.
Humanitarian crisis across the region
Mike Noyes, CAFOD’s lead on our Syria response, says of the situation: "As a result of the violence that continues to worsen across Syria, we are now facing a humanitarian crisis across the region as big as the one which affected Haiti after the earthquake.
We are supporting our partners in Syria and in neighbouring countries to do all they can to ensure that the most vulnerable are getting the help they need, but this is limited by the resources we currently have available."
In the midst of a harsh winter, Syrians face freezing conditions, a lack of diesel for heating and inadequate clothing. Caritas Syria President Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo told Vatican Radio: “It is very cold in Aleppo. We don’t have any fuel…it’s very expensive. Especially for the hospitals, the schools, of course in the houses. It’s really a real problem, this problem of fuel.
"All the people have become poor generally in Syria… before, all the people were living without hunger. But now even the middle class is living like the poor in Aleppo."
How we’re helping
Our partner Caritas Syria has been providing food, medical assistance, helping children keep up with school and ensuring people are prepared for the winter. It has been working in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hassakeh, Horan and on the coast.
CAFOD has supported Caritas Syria as part of its international appeal launched at the end of 2012 which has focused on helping over 11,200 people pay their rent and on giving them warm clothes, heaters, blankets and stoves.
