Syrian Crisis: What Can You Do?

IT'S BEEN a couple of weeks since the people of the UK were jolted awake by terrible images of the human cost of the events in Syria and beyond. Of course there are bound to be differences of opinion over the political implications of it all, but for most the stir of empathy for human desperation trumps political pragmatics.

We fund a major hospital in Northern Syria and a large maternity hospital

Manchester folk are a compassionate lot, and the genuine and generous response to the refugee crisis has been as heartening as the pictures from Calais and beyond have been heartbreaking. Here we take a look at what’s been going on in our city and how you can still help.

First up, how have our elected representatives been responding to the crisis so far? Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell wrote to David Cameron to ask him to reconsider the Government’s position, saying ‘I know that I speak for many when I say that our city would welcome playing its part as part of a fairer approach from the UK Government.’

Gerald Kaufman, MP for Gorton, went further in his criticism and said in an impassioned speech to the House of Commons: ‘What is their [the Government’s] response to the heart-rending refugee swarm—that is what it is—of people fleeing horrors that, thank God, we in this country will never know. In their programme for accepting—not welcoming—refugees into this country, they have imposed not a target, but a limit, of 20,000.’

Kate Green, the MP for Stretford & Urmston, expressed what MPs across the Northwest have been saying of their constituents when she said, ‘I have received several hundred emails expressing sympathy and solidarity with the families and individuals seeking refuge, and many people have asked how they can assist directly’.

George Osborne, meanwhile, has generously waived VAT on a charity single.

Manchester City Council stated its willingness to help but pointed the finger at the Government’s Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme as providing inadequate resources. Councillor Paul Andrews said (on Richard Leese’s blog): ‘I am absolutely clear that Manchester will willingly take its share of refugees, as we currently do and always have done, but, if we are to give refugees the support they need this needs to be properly and fully-funded by the government as part of a national response.’

UK aid heading to Syria

While the mills of government grind slowly on, we can look closer to home for more satisfying examples of direct action. Timperley-based charity Syria Relief was founded four years ago by Syrian expats in the UK who started collecting donations from friends and arranged for food supplies and tents to be delivered to the needy people inside Syria. The charity rapidly became the most active UK-based NGO working inside Syria, unlike most other international NGOs, who were only able to distribute aid to refugees in neighbouring countries.

Ayman Jundi of the charity told Manchester Confidential: "In our education programme we run 55 schools inside Syria, and are looking to increase that to 80 this year. Our medical aid programme allows us to provide urgently needed health care through a number of primary healthcare centres and a number of local hospitals.

"In addition, we fund a major hospital in Northern Syria, the largest in that part of Syria. We also fund a large maternity hospital and the pioneering National Syrian Project for Prosthetic Limbs. In addition, we have an active and extensive food distribution programme, an orphan sponsorship programme, and a water, sanitation and hygiene programme.  

"Our work is crucial in providing humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of needy and destitute civilians inside Syria, and we cannot do it without the generosity of our supporters, the help of our volunteers, and the selfless dedication of our team.” Syria Relief is currently also working in Greece and Macedonia and we encourage you to visit their website to see how you can help.

Another charity with a Manchester base is Refugee Action, which is accepting donations of toiletries, nappies, blankets, coats and shoes to be dropped off any weekday morning between 10am and 12.30pm at the office in Canada House (further details below).

In Trafford, St Bride's Church has been working with destitute failed asylum seekers for over ten years. The project was set up in conjunction with the British Red Cross and Boaz Trust. 

Each week the church helps up to 40 (it has been up to 80) people who are in the process of making a fresh claim for asylum. The church provides a hot meal, a basic food parcel and a safe place while the BRC provide an advice clinic, bus fare to come back the next week and monthly toiletries. Co-ordinator Linda Penrose said, ‘This has proved to be a much more demanding task than I first imagined but the joy of witnessing someone's first smile after six months of attending or sharing the celebration of someone who has received 'leave to remain' make everything worthwhile.’

People Over Borders are staging a fundraiser at the Deaf Institute

Local individuals have also been organising vans to take donations directly to where they are needed most. Many of these efforts are been co-ordinated by Manchester2Calais. Check in with the group to find out where and when to drop off donations. Collection points include the Angel Centre, Salford, and The Castle Hotel, Gullivers, Eagle Inn, The Parlour, Bakers Vaults and Palate, all of which can be used for drop off points for donations of aid items (landlord Jonny Booth is making the drive). If you don’t have things on the essentials list, please consider volunteering time instead to help sort out what has already been donated.

Finally, the people of Manchester can also show support by having a good time – People Over Borders is an event organised by local promoters in aid of families in Syria and the refugee camps in Macedonia, Greece and Hungary. Held this Sunday 20 September at the Deaf Institute and featuring a vast array of bands and DJs, you just need a good heart and a pair of dancing feet. And even if you can’t get a ticket you really must check out this amazing raffle.

This has just been a sample of the fundraising efforts going on locally by the kind-hearted citizens of Manchester and beyond. From sponsored walks to volunteering opportunities, please let us know more in the comments.