How Canadians can help Syrian refugees
The refugee crisis in Syria has been ongoing since the outbreak of civil war in 2011.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency there are now more than 4 million Syrian refugees.
This week photos of the body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, found lifeless on a Turkish beach, made international headlines and galvanized international attention for the refugee crisis.
Kurdi, his brother and his mother all drowned when their boat, bound for the Greek island of Kos, capsized.
Their deaths have prompted many Canadians to ask how they can help refugees fleeing the war in Syria.
There are numerous organizations worldwide providing support.
The following is a list of some of the larger organizations lending a helping hand.
The UNHCR coordinates UN refugee responses, including support for host countries providing assistance for Syrian refugees.
International Organization for Migration
The IOM is an intergovernmental organization which provides services and support to governments and migrants.
The United Nations Children’s Fund is a child-focused humanitarian organization operating in 192 countries, including Syria.
Doctors Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières, operates medical facilities inside Syria and supports more than 100 clinics, health posts and field hospitals in the country.
Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working around the world to find solutions to poverty and support human rights.
The World Food Programme is the food assistance branch of the United Nations.
MOA consists of humanitarians, security professionals, medical staff and maritime officers working to prevent further refugee crisis at sea.
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization with a focus on human rights.
Part of the international humanitarian organization Red Cross/Red Crescent, the Canadian Red Cross is helping to support the efforts of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in Syria.