Surviving Syrian Winters

In some parts of the world, there is nothing more welcoming after baking summer season than the chilly winds of winter. Of course these weather extremes, like anything extreme, can be a nuisance. For the 2.8 million refugees  currently living on the Syrian border, however, living through the extremes of weather is part of the norm. 

Normally people dress according to the weather, but refugees don’t have that luxury. For many of them, the same items of clothing have to suffice throughout the year, come rain r snow. The winters are extremely brutal in this region, especially for little children and the elderly. They do not have the clothes to protect their bodies from the cold weather, nor do they have anything to warm up their chilled food before eating. In some cases they don’t even have adequate shelter.

In the winter season, the needs of the disaster-stricken Syrians change completely. One of the many things Syrian refugees need in the winter are resources that will allow them to keep themselves and their food warm. A basic fire would do, but the winter winds are simply too strong and even the thin blankets some are lucky enough to have are barely sufficient. People use wood, coal and anything else they can find to make a fire which they then use for other basic provisions such as tea, food and boiling water.

Clothing is another big issue. Many of the families in the refugee camps are extremely poor. Those that aren’t were forced to leave everything behind when they were running for their lives from the conflict. Everything they owned, they have left behind, including both material belongings and sentimental ones. This has resulted in a lack of warm clothes which spells trouble for everyone come the Syrian winter, known for its brutal winds. Relief aid efforts by Muslim Aid have provided warm blankets to these refugees; last year we donated thousands of blankets to assist the refugee population.

The summer season is extremely hot and winters are extremely cold, with temperatures falling well below freezing for the most part. With the summer season nearing its end, it won’t be long before the freezing winter winds arrive. In such trying times, your donation can be all the difference between a good night’s sleep and a sleepless night for a suffering family. Your pledge pays for vital clothing equipment such as leather gloves, thick boots, woollen socks, caps, and beanies, etc.

As well as pledges, some people have a different and creative approach to helping Syrians. They donate old clothes; clothes they don’t need or want anymore but could help refugees in a big way. Warm clothes are invaluable in the winter season and it is easy to gather bits you don’t want and send them to those in need. Many charitable organizations take these clothing donations alongside or instead of financial pledges, shipping them to refugee camps straight away.

The threat of another freezing cold winter is looming over Syria and its neighbouring countries right now, and while most of us will be content in our homes enjoying a good night’s sleep, these refugees will be spending the night under open skies in tents. They need winter clothes to survive. The living conditions in Syria are already too harsh right now and a little help from each and every one of us can greatly change and improve the lives of the helpless Syrians. Donate today to help Syria.