Syria Crisis - Emergency Assistance in Lebanon - Canadian Red Cross 2015

March 2015 - The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate as a result of the civil war and intensified violence in the country. The United Nations estimates that 12.2 million people inside Syria including 5.6 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Combined with 3.8 million Syrians seeking refuge from the conflict in neighbouring countries this is the largest number of people displaced from conflict in the world. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and host countries are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people fleeing the conflict. With DFATD’s support the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is working with the Lebanese Red Cross Society (LRCS) and the Palestine Red Cross Society (PRCS) to assist Syrian refugees arriving in Lebanon. Project activities through the LRCS include: (1) providing quality emergency medical care to up to 84 000 wounded and sick people arriving from Syria; (2) procuring medicines and medical supplies; and (3) providing support to mobile health units and acute priority health activities. In addition project activities through the PRCS in Lebanon include: (4) providing quality emergency medical care to up to 88 700 wounded and sick people arriving from Syria; (5) providing training of ambulance staff and training of volunteers on first aid and ambulance services; and (6) providing technical support through the CRC’s public health advisors and key medical staff.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) health needs of Syrian refugees met; and (2) increased capacity of the Lebanese Red Cross Society and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to respond to the health needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.