Today, the people of Syria face a multitude of crises that make day to day life harder than we can imagine. A decade of conflict has affected 16.7 million people, hundreds of thousands have died, and millions more have been displaced – often multiple times. Homes and vital infrastructure have been destroyed, access to the basics such as food, water, shelter, medicine and essential services is severely limited. Once a rapidly growing middle-income country, Syria is now in the grip of an economic crisis, with more than 90 percent of people living below the poverty line and between 55 and 65 percent living in extreme poverty. COVID-19 has made an already dire situation worse, with so many unable to find work, put food on the table, or even access basic services.

Today, Syrians are more dependent on aid than they were 5 or 10 years ago. 

Since the beginning of the conflict Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has been leading the response and is the largest provider of humanitarian services in the country, providing 60 percent of all aid across the country. Through SARC, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has an unparalleled presence throughout the country, reaching over five million people every single year with life-saving assistance, including:  

• health care, medical transport and first aid for the sick and injured,  
• clean drinking water and sanitation,  
• emergency shelters for displaced families,  
• warm clothes, blankets and mattresses to keep out the winter cold  
• food, baby supplies and hygiene kits for families in need 
• clean water and sanitation reaching 80% of people across Syria 
• psychosocial support for those who have experienced trauma 

Red Cross Red Crescent are also helping to rebuild essential infrastructure such as water pumping stations, hospitals and bakeries and are providing livelihoods support for families through vocational training, home gardening initiatives and agricultural support through seed, fertilizer and livestock distributions.  

Our teams are in the most difficult to reach and dangerous places, negotiating access to besieged towns and cities across country, so we can evacuate people as needed and deliver food and other essentials to people trapped in these areas.  

In areas where fighting continues and humanitarian needs are high Red Cross Red Crescent has provided essential health-care services, and first-aid. Clean drinking water, emergency shelter, support for evacuations and emergency relief items such as food parcels and blankets.  

Red Cross Red Crescent is providing psychosocial support for those who have experienced trauma, including sexual and gender-based violence. We also tracing missing persons and reuniting families who have been separated by conflict.  

Red Cross Red Crescent is also supporting Syrian refugees and the communities who host them in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. We provide livelihoods support through vocational and business training as well as cash grants that help people living in desperate poverty to pay rent, utilities and school fees. We are providing healthcare and first aid to the sick and injured and psychosocial support to those who have experienced trauma. Red Cross Red Crescent also provides shelter, clean drinking water and sanitation services and distributes essential aid items to those in need in these neighbouring countries.

Funds raised and donated will provide humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the Syrian crisis by:

• providing ambulance and first aid services and support to health care and clinics
• distribution of food, water and other relief items through Syrian Arab Red Crescent
• working with our Red Cross Red Crescent partners in neighbouring countries in providing assistance with emergency health, relief and recovery support to displaced people
• sending specialist aid workers to assist in assessments and relief and recovery operations.

Australian Red Cross will not deduct more than 10% of any Syria donation for an international appeal to cover appeal and administration costs. Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer term needs of the people in the affected areas, Australian Red Cross will direct the excess funds to other emergency response and recovery initiatives in the Middle East. Any interest earned on donations will be invested back into the appeal.

Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

We are unable to accept donated goods. As with all emergency appeals, the best and most effective way to help people is by donating cash. The cost of shipping donated items from Australia would far exceed the cost of purchasing them in bulk closer to Syria, from quality suppliers, and packing and delivering them from our Syrian warehouse.

People concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region, should first attempt to contact them directly. If the person overseas is an Australian citizen, they should call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 (for enquirers in Australia) or +612 6261 3305 (for enquirers overseas). For other enquiries, contact our Tracing Service.