In Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey there are 12.2 million people in need of food, water, shelter, blankets, mattresses and hygiene facilities. Photo / Chris Clarke / World Vision
In Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey there are 12.2 million people in need of food, water, shelter, blankets, mattresses and hygiene facilities. Photo / Chris Clarke / World Vision
We need you to help The Forgotten Millions. The Herald and World Vision are running a major campaign to raise funds and help the millions of children left homeless by war in Syria. With your help we can make a difference to the children and their families in desperate need throughout this region.
The Syrian crisis is rated a Category III disaster by World Vision International - the highest rating possible given the enormity of humanitarian need in the region.
In Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey there are 12.2 million people in need of food, water, shelter, blankets, mattresses and hygiene facilities. World Vision's work has now extended into Iraqi Kurdistan.
Several factors determine the severity of a disaster's classification.
"One of the key issues is how many people are affected, have been left homeless or are running out of food," says Chris Clarke, chief executive of World Vision New Zealand.
The rate of death or potential for death, the collapse of social order or infrastructure, and the number of countries implicated collectively contribute to the classification.
"Once we look at all of these elements we can then work out what World Vision's role should be and how we can help."
World Vision first looks to meet immediate, life-sustaining needs - food, water, shelter and hygiene. But in the case of the Syrian crisis, World Vision is establishing education systems in the camps and will soon begin working with refugees to help them sustain their own lives. "We're trying to establish a completely new normal for the refugee families."
Photo / Chris Clarke / World Vision
The size and instability of the Syrian crisis has made it a more complex emergency to respond to.
"It is extremely challenging because we're working in the context of a war zone and that makes it very difficult to establish good supply lines to some of the more severely affected communities," says Mr Clarke.
He says the UN Security Council needs to honour its resolution to preserve civilian life and provide aid agencies access to communities isolated by the conflict.
World Vision is responding to five Category III emergencies at the moment; the conflict in Syria and Iraqi-Kurdistan, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the West Africa Ebola crisis, and the conflicts in South Sudan and Central African Republic.
Cyclone Pam triggered a Category II emergency in Vanuatu; the Christchurch earthquakes were a localised Category I emergency.
"The number of emergencies we're responding to is huge at the moment and it's putting a massive strain on NGOs right across the spectrum."
Syria campaign
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Goal:
To raise funds to support 12 million Syrians, including 5.6 million children, who have fled their homes to other parts of Syria and neighbouring countries since the Syrian civil war began four years ago.
, broadcaster Rachel Smalley and World Vision, one of 21 non-government organisations (NGOs) working in a United Nations-led coalition in Syria and surrounding countries.
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The need:
The 21 NGOs said last week they needed US$8.4 billion ($11.4 billion) to respond to the crisis.
