German Caritas launches appeal for Syria

Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center

German charity Caritas International is appealing for £300,000 (€350,000) to fund their emergency work in Syria.

The charity, which is part of the Caritas Europa network, has already given food, blankets and heaters to 5,000 refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. And local Caritas partners have been providing medical care for months for victims of the violent clashes between government troops and insurgents.

But the recent death of a local charity partner worker has sparked fear. “The commitment of our partners in Syria is extremely dangerous,” said Caritas International’s head of Africa and the Middle East Christoph Klitsch-Ott.

“We not only need a full and unimpeded access to victims, but also to provide effective protection of workers’ demands,” he said.

And the cost of renting a home in Lebanon and Jordan is rising significantly due to the influx of refugees. There is a high demand for fuel and food in Syria and neighbouring countries.

More than 230,000 people have been displaced from their homes since the fighting, which has caused 8,000 deaths, began one year ago. 30,000 of them have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

To donate include the words “Nothilfe Syrien” (“help for Syria” in German): To Caritas, Freiburg, donations account number 202, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft, Karlsruhe, BLZ 660 205 00.; online at www.caritas-international.de ; text 81190 with the word ‘CARITAS’ (€5 plus normal text fee, which goes directly to Caritas €4.83).

Or to Diakonia disaster relief, Stuttgart, donations account number 502 707, Postbank Stuttgart, BLZ 600 100 70; online www.diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.de/spenden/ ; or text 81190 with the word ‘NOT’ (€5 plus normal text fee, which goes directly to disaster relief Diakonia €4.83).