How Can You Help Syrian Refugees?

The Syrian refugee crisis has been ongoing since 2011, and it remains one of the most pressing humanitarian issues to this day. For over a decade, Syrian citizens have been fleeing their home country in search of refuge from the conflict and violence brought on by the Syrian Civil War.

As of February 2023, around 3.7 million of these refugees are living in Turkey while over 800,000 live in Lebanon, over 600,000 in Jordan, and over 600,000 in Germany. Hundreds of thousands more are spread throughout different countries in the Middle East and Europe.

While Syrian refugees have found safety from war in the countries they’ve fled to, they’ve also faced difficulties assimilating into those countries and starting over. This includes living in poor conditions—often in overcrowded refugee camps—with limited access to food, clean water, healthcare, and more.

Syrian refugees in Turkey have faced an especially trying situation, partially due to the sheer number of refugees who have relocated there. With so many refugees relocating to Turkey, there are fewer opportunities to receive assistance and support, as both Turkish citizens and Syrian refugee communities contend for resources.

Further, on February 6th, 2023, two powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkey, causing devastating destruction along the Turkey/Syria border. As of March 8th, 2023, there were over 45,968 confirmed deaths in Turkey, with millions more people being displaced, and around 26 million individuals in need of assistance in both Turkey and Syria. Many of the Syrian refugees who were already in a foreign country seeking safety and assistance have now also been affected by this tragedy. 

So what can you do to help Syrian refugees, especially earthquake survivors in Turkey?

How To Help Syrian Refugees

• Advocate - Advocacy can be an effective way to help Syrian refugees, and involves raising awareness about the refugee crisis and the current situation in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey. It also entails advocating for policies and practices that support refugees. This can include contacting elected officials and urging them to support refugee resettlement programs and send critical aid where it is needed, as well as speaking out against xenophobia and discrimination against refugees.

• Support Businesses and Initiatives - Another way to help Syrian refugees is by supporting businesses and initiatives that provide jobs and economic opportunities for refugees. By supporting businesses that employ refugees or initiatives that provide funding for refugee entrepreneurs, you can help refugees become self-sufficient and contribute to their new communities. This may also involve supporting Syrian-owned businesses, which can then determine the best way to help fellow Syrians.

• Volunteer - Another way to help is to volunteer with organizations that work directly with refugees. There are many organizations that provide assistance to refugees in local communities, such as teaching English or helping with job training. These organizations rely on volunteers to provide these services, and volunteering can be a rewarding way to make a difference in the lives of refugees. 

• Donate - One of the quickest and most impactful ways to help Syrian refugees is to donate to organizations that provide direct assistance to refugees. Organizations like the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) provide critical services and assistance to those who have been displaced. These organizations also work to provide education and job training to refugees, which can help them rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities.

The Syrian and Turkish people desperately need help from individuals, agencies, organizations, and countries in order to find refuge and safety. ICMC is appealing to all those who are able to support the survivors of the earthquakes. 

ICMC advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and all migrants. ICMC and its members remain committed to supporting immigration policies that produce more sustainable solutions.

ICMC’s efforts include protecting internally displaced children in Burkina Faso, providing assistance to Afghan refugees with our partner agencies, providing support to survivors of gender-based violence in Malaysia, aiding Ukrainian refugees, and more.

We rely on generous donations to continue our critical work, so consider making a donation to help make a difference in the lives of Turkish and Syrian earthquake survivors today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.