8 years of war in Syria – Caritas helps!

Landau: „8 years of war have left Horror and destruction. It needs lasting peace and prospects for a return to Syria is possible.“

Vienna (OTS) – The soon 8-year-old civil war in Syria has devastating impact for the people of the country. Since the protests against the government of Bashar Al-Assad‘s and the subsequent outbreak of war in March 2011, were killed 560,000 people.6.2 million people are displaced within Syria, 5.6 million people have fled to neighboring countries.

„After eight years of war, destruction, and persecution, the balance sheet is alarming: 5.6 million children, a total of more than 13 million people, need humanitarian assistance to survive,“ says Caritas President Michael Landau: „We are witnessing how various power interests are at the centre, and the suffering of the civilian population. The humanitarian aid is chronically under-funded. And as long as with weapons deliveries a lot of money can be earned, seems to be a stable peace in the far distance.“

So Caritas helps
Caritas Austria has provided since the beginning of the conflict in Syria and in neighbouring countries, more than 24 million euros to support those Affected. 191.000 people were reached with this assistance. In addition to the assistance in Syria itself, have been supplied, especially people in Lebanon, in Jordan, but also in the North of Iraq and in Egypt, with medical help and food, and children’s access to education.

Especially the challenges in the field of education are enormous. „1.75 million children in Syria do not go to school, and that corresponds to the number of school-age children and adolescents in the whole of Austria. These children know nothing Other than the expulsion and escape. This is a disaster! Therefore, we have set as a Caritas from the very beginning, in addition to the classic emergency aid, i.e. the provision of food and medical care, in the on-site assistance: to enable children to attend school,“ explains Landau.

Education and care for a „lost Generation“
An example of the commitment of Caritas Austria for conflict-affected children the regional education program RHEP (Regional Holistic Education programs). The program is currently being implemented in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, pursues a holistic approach: children receive classical education and psycho-social support. „Our concern is children, who are traumatized by the war and the suffering is often difficult. Therapeutic and psychological assistance are urgently needed,“ emphasizes the Caritas President Landau. Teachers will also receive appropriate training and are accompanied in the course of the school year in the design of teaching.

Emergency relief in neighbouring countries
With the total help of the Caritas Austria in Lebanon, which is co-financed, among others, of the ORF neighbour in Need and the ADA, the Agency of the Austrian development cooperation, has so far supported more than 22,000 people: people on the run, but also vulnerable Lebanese can food received packets, hygiene articles, Blankets, mattresses and clothes, and children education.

The total help of the Caritas Austria in Jordan, which will also be co-financed by ORF neighbour in Need and the ADA, for the benefit of 85,000 people. The resources here in education, food, hygiene items and kitchen utensils, winter clothing, repair and improvement of accommodation and rent subsidies.

Return and reconstruction
Through the rise of government and the resulting improved security situation in some Parts of Syria, as well as the pressure of the neighbouring countries on people fleeing, they return to their home currently increasingly discussed.

„Of course, it is desirable, if those people who had to flee from Terror and war, can return to their homeland. Syria is still at war, and a safe return is not guaranteed, according to UNHCR. At the same time, the people in the host countries have few prospects for the future and have to live under precarious circumstances,“ says Caritas President Michael Landau. „The only stable peace and prospects for a life in Dignity can move people, ultimately, in their war-torn homeland to return to. Therefore, it is important to create both for the people in Syria prospects, as well as for those who had to flee in the host countries in the neighborhood, and for a while, or maybe even a permanent stay must likely to be. It is clear that to achieve this goal of return and reconstruction, it needs the support of all, both the stabilisation and the reconstruction of the country. As Caritas Austria, we will continue to make our contribution in the on-site assistance in a comprehensive sense. Thanks to the Austrians for the support of all donors for the Use, but also to the ADA and the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and foreign Affairs for Enabling the support and help!“

Please support the Caritas aid on the ground:
www.caritas.at/syrien
Donations account number:
BAWAG P. S. K.
BIC: BAWAATWW
IBAN: AT92 6000 0000 0770 0004
Password: Emergency Syria

Caritas Austria
Mag. Manuela Gutenbrunner
Press and Online
+43 (676) 7804677
manuela.gutenbrunner@caritas-austria.at
www.caritas.at