Aleppo’s civilian population is now in greater danger than ever, following reports of atrocities against civilians committed by pro-Syrian government forces poised to retake the city.
An emergency U.N. meeting was called on Tuesday to address the humanitarian crisis in the city at the epicenter of the Syrian Civil War. The U.N. reported that 82 civilians were killed by the advancing pro-Assad troops on their way to recapture the city.
Although thousands of civilians trapped in the rebel-held areas of the city are on the verge of being evacuted, humanitarian organizations in the region are still desperately in need of resources. Here are some of the organizations you can donate to to support the people of Aleppo:
The White Helmets captured international attention through their bravery, and were reportedly in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year. The 2,900 strong group of civilians have been carrying out rescue missions after government airstrikes since 2013, united by their motto of ‘to save one life, is to save all of humanity’.
The International Rescue Committee
IRC aid workers are meeting people who have fled Aleppo as they reach the nearby town of Al Dana, one of the many neighboring areas bracing themselves for the influx of displaced people driven from their homes in the city. Donations will go toward providing families who have escaped the city with food, fuel and emergency supplies including mattresses, blankets, soap and towels.
Hand in Hand for Syria was set up soon after the beginning of the war in 2011, and uses its extensive networks on the ground to implement aid in some of the most difficult-to-reach places. Some of the organization’s members living in Eastern Aleppo were forced to abandon their work after pro-government forces took control of the area. Donors can contribute toward the emergency appeal for families fleeing from the city, which will provide food, medical aid and winter supplies.
International Committee of the Red Cross
The ICRC and its local partner, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), have remained committed “to act as a neutral and impartial humanitarian intermediary” throughout the Syrian Civil War. Donations to the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have enabled food and medical deliveries to those in need, and the two groups issued a plea on Tuesday to those involved in fighting “to put humanity ahead of military objectives.”
Save the Children has been working to provide children and their families with warm clothes, shelters, protection, clean water and emergency care. In a statement on Tuesday, the charity said “Families who are desperate to leave are being shown no dignity or humanity. We must at least now end this carnage and safely evacuate the remaining civilians.”
