37 aid agencies raise the alarm about the skyrocketing needs among Syrians, as humanitarian funds are cut

As aid agencies come together to raise the alarm about the skyrocketing needs among Syrians and funding cuts, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is especially concerned about the ever-increasing number of persons with disabilities: 25% of people in Syria have disabilities; this number shoots up to 51% percent for women in displacement camps.

“Today’s pledged funds are urgently needed by millions of Syrians at home and dispersed across the region. They are needed now more than ever. While we welcome countries’ pledges that have kept their funding at similar levels to last year’s or increased it, as did Germany, it is extremely disappointing to see two major donors, the UK and the US, turn their back on the plight of Syrians. This will have a devastating impact on their lives.

Syrians are facing record food insecurity levels and declining socio-economic conditions. Needs have increased dramatically over the last year. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, with 12.4 million food insecure and another 1.8 million at risk of becoming so. 12 million people are in need of health assistance, yet health care facilities continue to come under attack. During a pandemic, 12.2 million lack regular access to clean water, while almost 6 million are in need of shelter.

We urge donors to renew and increase support shown to date, to maintain and increase humanitarian access - both within Syria and across its borders - and we call on parties to the conflict to uphold the ceasefire, especially in northern Syria.”

Humanity & Inclusion’s (HI’s) Advocacy Manager on the Syrian Crisis, Amy Rodgers said,

“the 2021 Syria donor conference has come to a disappointing end. According to some UN high officials, the situation has never been more desperate, yet major donors are cutting their funding. 10 billion USD is needed for Syria and refugee-hosting neighboring countries to meet the needs of over 14 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Yet only 4.4 billion USD was pledged today. Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is especially concerned about the ever-increasing number of persons with disabilities: 25% of people in Syria have disabilities; this number shoots up to 51% percent for women in displacement camps. They are among the most vulnerable and without an adequately funded response they and their families will continue to suffer as a result of hunger and a lack of access to health care and psycho-social support.”

---

Signed by:

Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR)

Action Against Hunger

Amals Healing and Advocacy Center

Basamat for Development

Bonyan Organization

Bousla Development & Innovation

CARE International

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Center D'accès Pour Les Droits de l'Homme (ACHR)

Christian Aid

Danish Refugee Council

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe

Humanity & Inclusion

International Humanitarian Relief (IHR)

International Rescue Committee

INTERSOS

Jana Watan

Jesuit Refugee Service MENA

Lamsat Ward

Médecins du Monde

Mennonite Central Committee

Mercy Corps

Norwegian Church Aid

Norwegian Refugee Council

Oxfam International

Save the Children

SEWAR

Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)

Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA)

Syria Relief

Syria Relief & Development (SRD)

Trocaire

War Child

WeWorld-GVC

World Vision International

Zenobia Association for Syrian Women

ZOA

---

Notes

- Amy Rodgers is available for interviews upon request

Press contact

Lucy Cottle, Humanity & Inclusion UK
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +44 (0)7504989280

About Humanity & Inclusion

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent international aid organization. It has been working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict, and disaster for 39 years. Working alongside people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and basic rights. Since it was founded in 1982, Humanity & Inclusion has set up development programs in more than 60 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. The network of eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) works constantly to mobilize resources, jointly manage projects, and to increase the impact of the organization’s principles and actions. Humanity & Inclusion is one of six founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 and the winner of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 2011. Humanity & Inclusion acts and campaigns in places where “living in dignity” is no easy task.