By Soraya Dali-Balta, IFRC
Each Ramadan for the past five years, Kuwait Red Crescent Society has held a campaign to support thousands of vulnerable Syrians who were forced to flee their conflict-stricken towns and cities, and seek refuge in neighbouring countries. This year, in cooperation with Lebanese Red Cross, the Red Crescent provided 30,000 iftar meals for Syrian families in Lebanon.
The Kuwaiti National Society started this campaign in the first days of the holy month, and continued together with Red Cross volunteers until the end of Ramadan. In the last week of the month, the Red Crescent distributed over 1,000 iftar meals to Syrian families in the Bekaa city of Zahle, and dozens of meals in the southern city of Saida and in northern Akkar. The volunteers also distributed 500 food parcels and 500 hygiene kits in the south-eastern town of Shebaa and in Qorqof, Akkar.
The Red Crescent, along with the Red Cross, were keen also on spreading the Fitr holiday spirit among refugee children through the distribution of sweets, new clothes and toys - 250 batches of clothes were provided to children in Zahle.
Lebanese Red Cross continues to be among the first responders to the refugee crisis across the country, through the distribution of relief aid and the provision of crucial health services. The organization is supported in this mission by its Movement and non-Movement partners.
The Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society is one the main partners of Lebanese Red Cross. The two National Societies cooperate in social and health projects to ease the lives of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Secretary General of Lebanese Red Cross Mr Georges Kettaneh said: “This is not the first time Kuwait Red Crescent Society provides support to those affected by conflict. Today, it is providing humanitarian aid to Syrians in Lebanon, including bread, food parcels, iftar meals, hygiene kits, clothes, and funds to manufacture prosthetic limbs.”
“This support eases the suffering of those affected by the Syrian crisis in Lebanon. We thank the leadership of the Red Crescent and its team operating in Lebanon for their ongoing efforts.”
