Irish Red Cross Releases

Unrest in Syria continues to cause suffering in several parts of the country. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are doing their utmost to help the people affected.

"There is a continuous flow of people leaving their homes in search of a safe haven," said Alexandre Equey, the ICRC's deputy head of delegation in Syria. "While some have managed to move in with relatives, friends, or even strangers willing to lend a helping hand, others have had no choice but to take refuge in schools, mosques and churches."

Volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are working round the clock in areas affected by the unrest, such as the governorate of Homs, north of Damascus. With ICRC support, they have distributed food and other essentials to 60,000 people in several governorates over the last two weeks.

"Most of these people left their homes in a hurry, abandoning all their belongings," said Mr Equey. "They still need food and other essential items."

People will continue to need humanitarian assistance for some time, and the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are working flat out to help them as rapidly as possible.

ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent activities over the past two weeks

• Eight trucks delivered food parcels for 60,000 people affected by the unrest in the governorates of Homs, Lattakia, Dar'a and Rural Damascus. In Homs, the two organizations also distributed hygiene materials, towels, blankets, mattresses and candles.
• Work started on upgrading water storage, toilets and showers at 10 public buildings in Homs, including schools, to improve sanitary conditions for 2,000 displaced persons.
• The ICRC provided the Syrian Arab Red Crescent branches in Damascus, Rural Damascus, Idlib and Homs with enough medical supplies to treat 200 casualties.