Donation seeks to alleviate the suffering of women and families affected by the war in Syria
The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has pledged to donate US $150,000 (AED 550,500) to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide cash grants for refugee women and vulnerable families in Egypt. There are over 100,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt, many forced to live in appalling conditions.
Under the terms of the agreement the UNHCR will administer the donated funds to provide much needed support to Syrian refugee women and vulnerable families in Egypt. The UHNCR will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the project and take responsibility for following up with local partners in Egypt.
Mariam al Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar, a TBHF initiative to improve the welfare of refugee children, said, “The war has been raging in Syria for almost five years and as a result there have been thousands of deaths. This has left many women and children without a male relative to care for them making them more vulnerable to exploitation and violence which adds to the trauma they have already endured. Through this donation to the UNHCR we seek to help these families with unconditional grants in order to ease their suffering.”
Al Hammadi added that Egypt was shouldering a huge burden with high numbers of Syrian refugees fleeing the crisis and seeking sanctuary there. “The Egyptian authorities are doing all they can to help their Syrian brothers and sisters but the situation is getting increasingly worse for many displaced Syrians. We all must do what we can to help these vulnerable people who are living in tough conditions through no fault of their own,” she said.
There are more than four million Syrian refugees displaced from their homes and communities as a result of the war. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children has called for the need of collaborative work by the UNHCR, governments and civil society to develop new projects for refugees in the host countries to help offer job opportunities for men and women and finance health care and education for children in those States. The UNHCR is mandated to protect and assist refugees and seek durable solutions to their plight and the United Nations General Assembly has acknowledged the need to strengthen the collective efforts of the international community in providing humanitarian assistance.
In May 2013, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appointed Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher as UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, one of the most distinguished positions in international humanitarianism. Her Highness’ commitment to alleviating the suffering of women and children affected by war, persecution and disaster and her eagerness to launch life-saving and life-changing initiatives, mobilise humanitarian support and secure financial resources for refugees, led to this appointment.
The Big Heart Foundation has provided life-saving medical services to over 365,000 Syrian refugees and gave more than 400,000 others vital food and financial aid. During the colder winter months in Syria and its neighbouring countries of Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon TBHF provided basic essentials to children and their families such as warm shelters, blankets and clothing.