Stamford, Conn. – July 10, 2018 – Americares is delivering $2 million in critical medicine and medical supplies to help children and families in war-torn Syria. Two shipments containing 29 tons of life-saving items, including antibiotics, intravenous fluids, safe birthing kits and chronic disease medications are in transit.
The medicines will be distributed to medical facilities in rural western Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Idlib, by Human Appeal and the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports over 100 medical facilities in Syria, including underground trauma hospitals.
Seven years of deadly conflict in Syria have created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that up to 5.6 million people have fled the country and another 6.6 million have been internally displaced by the fighting. More than half of Syria’s doctors have also left, as attacks on the health system continue at an alarming rate. According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the country’s public hospitals and health clinics are closed or only partially functioning and there is virtually no access to health care across many parts of the country.
“Thousands of lives are at stake,” said Americares Director of Complex Humanitarian Emergencies Adam Keehn. “The medicine we are providing will be put to use immediately to help save lives and improve the health of the most vulnerable in Syria.”
Americares has been supporting health services for families affected by the Syria crisis since 2012. To date, Americares has delivered more than $16 million in medical aid in response to the crisis. Americares aid has supported health care services in Syria, as well as medical care for Syrian families seeking refuge in Jordan, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon.
Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, increase access to medicine and medical supplies, improve and expand clinical services, prevent disease and promote good health. Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than $15 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.
About Americares
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches an average of 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.