Current news reports show many thousands of refugees fleeing from conflict in their home countries and heading to Europe. Many are fleeing from the life-threatening situation in Syria. Millions more are not in a position to leave. Medair’s team of emergency relief specialists, including shelter, WASH, nutrition and health experts, are at work across Lebanon and Jordan providing life-saving relief to those refugees and displaced people who remain in the region.
Since the outbreak of civil war in Syria in March 2011 more than four million people have left their homes, the majority fleeing to neighbouring countries. Nearly two million people have crossed the border into Lebanon and Jordan. Since 2012, Medair has been working at the heart of the crisis providing life-saving relief to those refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
The situation is extremely difficult for refugees without the means to move on towards Europe. Many who reach Lebanon or Jordan are prohibited from working because of their status. Their livelihoods are destroyed, and what they do have, they have to spend on feeding their families. Their resources don’t last long. They desperately need food, shelter, water and health care – and many are willing to risk their lives to meet those basic needs.
Medair’s assistance in the region includes the distribution of emergency shelter kits, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) projects, nutrition and healthcare education and treatment, and unconditional cash assistance.
“The situation in Lebanon and Jordan has become much more difficult over the last year, and funding for the refugee crisis has reduced significantly” said Johan ten Hoeve, Medair’s Head of Regional Programme for the Middle East Region. “Many of the people we are supporting are now fully dependent on the cash Medair provides. We are seeing greater and greater challenges for refugees here. Whilst refugees might have come from Syria with some financial means, these have now run out. Their options are very limited and we see people whose only choices are returning to Syria or moving further along the refugee trail."
Medair urgently needs more funds to meet the needs of Syrian refugees who remain in the region. For more information and interview requests please contact:
Nathalie Fauveau
Press Relations
Medair
nathalie.fauveau@medair.org
+41786353095