Dubai: The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, has launched a fund-raising campaign to help Syrian refugees survive the harsh winter. The campaign was launched under the directives of Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.
The campaign aims to help Syrian refugees living in neighbouring countries and provide them with emergency aid to alleviate their suffering. Temperatures have dropped to below zero Celsius and accompanied by strong winds in the Levant region, conditions are getting worse, raising questions over how refugees will survive the tough winter, particularly those who live in camps, temporary homes and tents that cannot withstand heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar, an initiative by TBHF, said: “We launched this campaign as a collective initiative to support refugees. Charity and goodness are deeply rooted in the Emirati society, and this campaign provides an opportunity for all of us to contribute to helping refugees, who are in even greater need during the bitterly cold winter months.”
She said, “The campaign is in line with the UAE’s humanitarian and philanthropic approach to help the poor and needy people all over the world. The foundation organises this campaign at this particular time to provide assistance to refugees who live in makeshift camps under harsh winter conditions that affect their health due to the lack of life essentials and healthcare.”
Al Hammadi added that refugees are living under very difficult conditions during the bitter winter months due to the freezing weather and wind storms. “Thousands of families are unable to protect themselves and their children from the bitter cold and its consequences. Even worse is that families do not have money for fuel to keep their tents and temporary homes warm,” she said.
“TBHF will continue to follow the conditions of refugees and their children inside and outside the camps to ensure they are provided with their most basic daily needs to help them overcome the new obstacles and crises caused by the bitter winter. The Foundation wants to meet the needs of refugees and help them to live a dignified and safe life until they can return home after the crisis.”
Al Hammadi urged all community members to participate in the campaign and help alleviate the suffering of refugees. She added that refugee children are living in very difficult conditions in camps and temporary shelters which afford them little protection from freezing temperatures and winter storms.
BOX: Donations
People can help provide essential supplies such as:
Warm sleeping bags by donating Dh75
blankets and mattresses for Dh200,
heating stove can be provided for a refugee family by a donation of Dh370,
Donating Dh375 will help provide basic needs of one family for one month
Donating Dh750 will help secure the needs of a family for two months.
The collection box locations are City Centre Ajman, City Centre Nasseriya, Matajer Al Juraina, Matajer Al Mirgab, and Matajer Al Qouz, and the funds raised will go towards providing vital supplies for refugees.
