More than a year after the conflict began in Syria, some 2.5 million people continue to be affected by this emergency. Over a million people are displaced internally within Syria and 450,000 Syrians have fled to neighboring countries. These numbers only continue to increase as the situation deteriorates.
From the onset of this crisis, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has been working on the front line across Syria to provide life-saving first aid services to people in need where health and medical services no longer function. Currently SARC, with support from its partners, is assisting 1.5 million people each month with food and non-food items. With support from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, SARC is actively responding to this emergency with relief distributions, responding to medical needs, improving water supply and sanitation and providing livelihoods activities.
As a member of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, SARC is a neutral and impartial organization guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross. Staff and volunteers with SARC have endured great risk and some have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is essential that medical personnel, medical facilities and ambulances must not be harmed. Health care personnel, particularly SARC volunteers, must be able to safely provide aid. The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems must be respected by all sides.