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Middle East crisis

children looking out over Homs, Syria
In a more peaceful time, orphans Alla and Marah look out over the city of Homs, Syria. Their orphanage, supported by MCC’s Global Family education sponsorship program, has now moved to a safer location. (Photo by Ben Younan)

MCC responds with kits, food, grassroots peacebuilding  
(Updated March 8, 2012)

MCC has issued an appeal for $500,000 and relief kits to assist partner organizations in the Middle East as they provide humanitarian aid and build peace at the community level.

Tens of thousands Syrians have fled violence in their country to seek refuge in neighbouring countries including Jordan. Some of these families are receiving support from Caritas Jordan, a MCC partner agency that has set up distribution operations in Mafraq and Ramtha, two cities near the Jordanian-Syrian border.

“Families have been traumatized by the violence they have witnessed,” said Daryl Byler, a MCC representative based in Jordan who talked with several families during a recent visit to the Caritas distribution operations in Mafraq.

One of the women receiving support, who identified herself only as Salwa, said she along with her husband and four children, fled the city of Homs after two neighbours were killed and her husband’s grocery store was taken over by Syrian security forces. They fled to Jordan with the clothes they were wearing.

Salwa and her family, along with many other families who have fled to Jordan, have not sold their home and anticipate returning to Syria. “I asked Salwa what message she would want to share with people in the West,” said Byler. “Her swift reply was, ‘Please do not forget the Syrian people’.”

A significant part of MCC’s response will also help partners in Lebanon  expand efforts that strengthen conflict prevention efforts and disaster preparedness. This includes media training, encouraging dialogue among young leaders, trauma training and more.

Donations are welcome and should be marked Middle East Crisis. For more information about assembling relief kits please call your nearest MCC office or visit http://www.mcc.org/kits/relief.