Appeals

Syria conflict: volunteers work in memory of the 20 killed

 

Damage to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent's garage in Homs

© SARC – Homs

This is an edited version of an Italian article by Tommaso Della Longa – a member of the Italian Red Cross – in Damascus.

“A few days ago, we intervened to rescue some injured people. Everything was going well, when the situation suddenly deteriorated into an exchange of fire. We found ourselves caught up in the middle for three hours, with no protection except for the emblem.” The person speaking is a 24-year-old university student, who is also a volunteer with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

There is no fear in his voice and he is calm. He and the other members of his team know they must do what they are doing. “Otherwise,” they say, “who would do it?” More

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Red Cross illustrated: photos and video of live drawing in Bristol

 

Red-themed illustrations at the event

©BRC

Last Thursday, a group of local illustrators held a live drawing event, exhibition and auction in Bristol. Artists produced pieces on the theme of ‘red’ to raise funds and awareness during Red Cross Week.

At the event, five of the artists – Dave Bain, Liv Bargman, Katy Christianson, Paul Roberts and Loch Ness – illustrated sections of a huge two-metre by three-metre canvas. Their challenge was to respond to the British Red Cross’ campaign strapline – ‘refusing to ignore people in crisis.’ More

Appeals, Fundraising and events, UK 1 ,

Syria conflict: displacement on an almost unimaginable scale

Volunteers play with displaced children in Homs

©SARC – Homs

The UN now estimates that almost a quarter of Syria’s population – 4.25 million people – have fled their homes within Syria. Of these people, four out of five are living with host families. The rest are renting, or sheltering in vacant buildings, collective centres, parks, barns or caves.

Now try to imagine what would happen if more than four million people in the UK had to find somewhere new to live. That’s the equivalent of everyone living in Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, Belfast and Sheffield leaving their homes and not going back. More

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Video and photos: Red Cross Weekly makes locals news

 

Passersby play with perspective

©BRC

For Red Cross Week 2013, we’ve been asking you to make the headlines.

“But I’ve been trying to get famous for years,” you moan. “And I’ve not got so much as a mention in the Gillyford parish newsletter, despite my whimsical yodelling, futuristic attire and early-morning cartwheel rituals on the village green.”

Well, we understand that celebrity can be hard to come by, however diligently you court it. So to make it a little easier for you to grab that elusive front page spot, we’re bringing giant 3D newspapers to cities around the country.

How is this helping Red Cross enthusiasts claim column inches? Well, dear fame-hungry fundraisers, these giant newspapers can be personalised.

More

Appeals, Fundraising and events, UK 4 ,

Red Cross Week: you make the headlines

You rewrite the headlines

Tired of feeling powerless to help when you read about hurricanes, earthquakes and floods in the newspapers? Do those stories on the evening news about isolated pensioners, destitute refugees and house fires make you want to throw down the TV remote in despair?

Well switch off the screen, bin the broadsheet and help us rewrite the story this Red Cross Week (5-11 May). More

Appeals, Fundraising and events, UK 2 ,

Photo gallery: helping people in Syria cope with conflict

Whether it’s providing blankets, food, first aid or just a little comfort, Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers are working round the clock to make life a little more bearable for people in Syria.

Donate to the Syria Crisis Appeal

     

Slideshow images © 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12&13: SARC, Homs. 3&5: SARC, Tartous. 8: SARC/ Homam Azzam. 11: SARC, Aleppo.

Appeals, International 1

Syria conflict: cash grants to refugees in Jordan bring hope

Man signing up for the cash grant programme in Ajloun, Jordan

©IFRC/ Raefah Makki

Mohammed and his six children have recently arrived in the Ajloun governorate of Jordan, 47 miles north-west of Amman. The 33-year-old Syrian came to escape Zaatari refugee camp, which his children couldn’t bear during the harsh winter.

We meet Mohammed on a Wednesday morning at the Jordanian Red Crescent branch in Ajloun. He is one of the 256 vulnerable people in Ajloun who the Red Crescent has carefully selected to receive a cash grant, to pay for accommodation and household items.

He says: “I came here to receive an ATM Card. I still don’t know how the system works, but I am very excited to learn as this will certainly support my six children and my wife. With this card we will be receiving cash that will enable us to pay for rent. More

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Syrian refugees in Jordan: waiting for the Syria conflict to end

Syrian refugees in Jordan

©BRC/ Ibrahim Malla

This is a guest blog by Julia Brothwell, a member of our disaster management team who recently returned from Jordan.

As news broke that one million Syrians were seeking refuge in countries neighbouring Syria, I was on my way to Za’atari Camp in Jordan – temporary home to 140,000 refugees. I saw new toilet and washroom facilities being built on the outskirts of the camp. Soon tents and shelters made from containers will spring up to fill the gaps between the breeze-block structures.

Basic needs like food, shelter, water and medical care are covered by a multitude of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations. Along the camp’s main thoroughfare, shops have opened up to sell a variety of goods to make life a little more comfortable – from fresh bread, fruit and vegetables to cigarettes, mobile phones and even twin-tub washing machines. Small coffee shops sell sandwiches and sodas, while barbers offer haircuts and shaves. More

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