After surviving a bomb attack and finding shelter in a Turkish refugee camp, a Syrian girl admires her new shoes — a gift made possible by Baitulmaal donors. Children suffer tremendously in conflict zones, and a donor can bring hope where it is in short supply.
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URFA, TURKEY, March 8, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered winter essentials to 85 Syrian refugee families and 190 Syrian orphans. Warm meals were also served to 1,500 orphans while heaters and fuel were supplied to 6 schools serving 2,050 students in Northern Syria.
Orphaned children between the ages of 3 and 15 in the Syrian city of Tell Abyad received sweaters, trousers, jackets and shoes. Heaters and heating fuel were also supplied to 6 schools in the area serving a total of 2,050 students, including the Al-Sokariah primary and middle schools, Alatshana school, Kormaza school and Khirbet al-Raz school. In the neighboring Turkish governorate of Urfa, 50 Syrian refugee families received 2 heavy blankets each, and another 35 families received winter clothes for 100 children.
Baitulmaal’s executive director, Mazen Mokhtar, was on the ground in Turkey coordinating humanitarian efforts and delivering the much-needed aid. He said that many people in refugee camps have insufficient means to protect themselves against extreme weather, especially children, which is why his team were in the camps distributing warm meals and clothing as well as heaters to keep students warm at the schools.
“To see the faces of children light up when they receive new shoes or a jacket is truly a heartwarming experience,” said Mokhtar. “I saw one girl who was injured in a bombing and thought to myself how fragile, yet strong, these children are. I’m thankful our donors enable us to deliver hope where it is needed.”
According to the UN Refugee Agency, Syria has the largest displaced population in the world. More than 6 million people — including 2.5 million children — are displaced within Syria. Many displaced Syrians live in deplorable conditions owing to continued violence and escalating poverty. Tell Abyad, a Syrian city that shares a border with Turkey, has long been hotly contested and targeted during the now 10-year long conflict.
Baitulmaal recently delivered large floor mats and winter kits to Syrians in Idlib, four hours west of Tell Abyad, whose tents and belongings were impacted by severe winter weather. The charity also distributed bread for 94,677 meals to families facing food insecurity in Syria.
Donors who would like to learn more or contribute to emergency aid and orphan support programs at Baitulmaal can visit their website at johnjanney.org/.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the charity has offices in: Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Nairobi, Kenya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Amman and Al Ramtha, Jordan; and Karachi, Pakistan.
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