Перейти к основному содержанию

QRCS supports public health, food security in northern Syria [EN/AR]

Страны
Сирия
Источники
Qatar Red Crescent
Дата публикации

February 6th, 2021 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) continues to provide relief for the underserved Syrians in northern governorates. Its representation office in Turkey has recently conducted several projects in the food and public health sectors.

In emergency response to the damage in the camps of internally displaced people (IDPs) due to heavy rainfall, QRCS’s rapid response teams visited some affected camps to execute awareness activities and services.

These included malnutrition screening among under-5 children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Nutritional supplements were provided for the critically malnourished cases.

Community awareness sessions were held on the risks of low temperatures, how to deal with it, ways of water purification, the importance of breastfeeding and good nutrition for women and children, and prevention of malnutrition.

QRCS’s field personnel also provided one-on-one consultation, micronutrients, and soap to the target families. Children attended custom activities on personal and public hygiene. The beneficiaries were referred to the nearest health centers, depending on their respective cases.

In Jarabulus, a city in the countryside of Aleppo, a group of QRC’s field experts implemented a project to ensure food security in an area of high density of IDPs that lacks food and nonfood supplies.

The purpose of the project is to ensure self-dependence in producing bread, from harvesting wheat, flour production, and provision of equipment to the provision of bread at low prices for the IDPS and inhabitants of Jarabulus.

Among the activities of the project are purchasing 400 tons of wheat directly from local farmers, rehabilitating the premises of the city’s main bakery, establishing a fully equipped bread production line with a productivity of 6-8 tons per day, rehabilitating the 1-km way from the main road to the bakery, and graining and supplying the purchased wheat to the bakery, which is producing over 36,000 bags of bread per week.

It has a significant impact on the lives of over 33,000 beneficiaries, including the 56 farmer families from which the bread was purchased and more than 6,700 families that will benefit from the lower-price bread produced by the wholly renovated bakery.

Living in the harshest conditions ever, the northeastern parts of Syria host 4.4 million persons, including 2.7 displaced persons, or 61% of the overall population. Jarabulus is one of the largest three destinations for the displaced people whose villages were bombed or destroyed.

Amid extremely higher prices of fuel and blockade of markets, wheat farmers are unable to sell their crops, which would seriously translate into losses and eventually abandonment of the profession.

At the same time, the public find it difficult to buy the too expensive bread, which is priced at $0.5 per kg. As such, a breadwinner will need more than $50 per month to buy bread only, while the average family income is less than $1 per day.

About Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS)

Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.

QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 191 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.

QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.

QRCS works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.