Back to Gift Store >
×

January 17, 2013

Syria Refugee Crisis: 10 Ways You Can Help Right Now

Looking for ways to help women, children and families fleeing the violence in Syria? Take action now with one, or all, of these 10 simple ideas. You can help save lives!

The Situation in Syria:


Nearly 2.5 million refugees and counting have now fled the escalating violence in Syria. Each day, up to 8,000 new refugees are pouring out of Syria's borders and into the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

The UN estimates that over 3 million people have been displaced within Syria's borders, abandoning their hometowns for relative safety in other areas of the country.

Fleeing horrific violence and unimaginable fear in their country, many Syrians left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back. 

“We are constantly shocked by the horrific stories refugees tell us. Their lives are in turmoil. They have lost their homes and family members. By the time they reach the borders, they are exhausted, traumatized and with little or no resources to rely on.”  — Panos Moumtzis, UNHCR Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Emergency

How the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is Helping:


The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) leads the coordinated emergency response effort among seven UN agencies, 27 national and international NGOs and partners, and host governments to meet the humanitarian needs of an anticipated 1.1 million refugees through June 2013. Now that over 1 million refugees have crossed the border, the needs are expanding requiring UNHCR to increase its respone.

UNHCR also provides life-saving shelter and protection to both Syrians displaced within their country and refugees in the neighboring countries. UNHCR works around the clock to provide refugees with vital winter relief items such as warm clothes, weather proofing for tents, thermal blankets and stoves. Inside Syria, UNHCR has offered displaced families urgent winterization and shelter assistance, and financial assistance so that they may stockpile much-needed essential items.

Here's what you can do to help refugees and internally displaced people from Syria:


1.  Donate Online.

Donate Now to help Syrian refugees

Donating online is the quickest and most secure way to ensure that your donations will support UNHCR's work in Syria and the refugee camps where thousands of Syrian families are arriving each day. It's fast, easy and secure. 

2. Learn how UNHCR and the United States are helping.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, Assistant Secretary, State Department Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne C. Richards, and Syria Deeply's Lara Setrakian got together using Google Hangout to answer questions and discuss how their organizations are helping the innocent people affected by the conflict in Syria.

Watch the recording to stay informed, then share the video on social media to let others know that the aid can only be increased if we all take action.

3.  Share this page on Facebook and Twitter.  It only takes a few seconds!

 
Share on Facebook Tweet This

Now that you know 10 ways to help Syrian refugees, share the knowledge! With more people taking action, the UN Refugee Agency and its partners will be able to rush aid to those affected by nearly 2 years of violence in Syria.

4.  Watch this video: "Angelina Jolie Visits Syria-Jordan Border."

This December, UN Refugee Agency Special Envoy Angelina Jolie met a group of newly-arrived Syrian refugees while visiting to the Jordan-Syria border, and announced a donation of $50,000 to help UNHCR provide emergency shelter for refugee families. Ms. Jolie called on the international community to find a solution to the conflict in Syria and to continue support the humanitarian operations in Jordan and the surrounding countries.

"It's impossible to imagine any mother standing by and not stepping up and doing something," said Ms. Jolie during a previous visit with Syrian refugees.

Here's one way you can step up: Share this video with your friends

5.  Join the Emergency Response Team.

Regular monthly gifts to USA for UNHCR mean our Emergency Response Team gets the support it needs today and every day that the crisis continues.  A monthly donation is easy, cost-efficient, and makes such a big difference to our work – so much so that we consider monthly supporters as truly one of the team. Join the Emergency Response Team today! 

6. Save a life — or many — for your birthday!

If you have a special day coming soon, whether it's a birthday, anniversary, half-birthday, pet's birthday, or any special day, make a wish for Syrian refugees!

By dedicating your day to refugees, you can provide much-needed blankets, life-saving heaters, or even a weather-resistant home for people who have lost everything. It's very easy to take action, and anyone with a Facebook account can partipate.

Create a Birthday Wish through Causes, then search for "USA for UNHCR" to select us as the nonprofit you are raising money for. And please let your friends and social networks know about your generosity!

7. Organize an Online Fundraiser from the comfort of your home

If your birthday isn't coming soon, you can still dedicate your time to help to refugees. Invite your friends, family and colleagues to contribute by setting up a GlobalGiving fundraiser. With email tools, social media widgets and donation tracking, GlobalGiving makes it easy for you to reach your goal. GlobalGiving Fundraisers are a great tool to help you change the world, one donation at a time.

Add our Syria Emergency project to your GlobalGiving fundraiser here

8.  Host a Fundraiser in your Community

There are many different types of fundraisers or events you can organize. Some ideas involve a single person encouraging friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to make a donation. Others are designed for a group, such as a classroom, office or sports team, to do together.  Your fundraiser can be big or small, anywhere from a public concert to an intimate dinner party with friends.

No matter what you choose to do, remember that USA for UNHCR is behind you, ready to answer questions and provide materials. Get started! 

9. Subscribe to USA for UNHCR's free eNewsletter to receive weekly updates.

Sign up online to become a UNHCR Insider and learn more about the refugee cause. You’ll receive weekly e-newsletters with an on-the-ground view of refugee emergencies from Syria, Mali, South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, Darfur, and around the world. 

10.  Add these banner images to your blog or website.

 

How to Help Syria - Banner Image
250x360
 

 

980x120

If you have a blog or website, please add these banners to show you care and that you're helping the refugees from Syria. You can also write a blog post about why you care about Syrian refugees and help spread the ways to help mentioned above.

Simply click on the thumbnail to view the full-size image, then right-click to save the image to your computer. Next, upload the image to your website.

If you work at (or with) an agency, please contact USA for UNHCR immediately at 202-296-1115 x 110 to discuss donating excess online ad space to helping the Syria refugee crisis.


DONATE NOW