UK MPs to discuss Syrian aid challenges

The unparalleled humanitarian challenges posed by the prolonged Syrian conflict and growing refugee crisis will be discussed by leading parliamentary figures at a House of Commons briefing organised by Islamic Relief and the Council for Arab British Understanding (Caabu) on Wednesday, May 15. The parliamentary speakers at the Prioritising the humanitarian agenda for Syria will be British MP Alistair Burt, Minister of State at Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and Ian Lucas, Shadow Foreign Minister. Also speaking will be Jehangir Malik, Islamic Relief’s UK Director; and Chris Doyle, Director of Caabu.“The humanitarian challenges thrown up by this crisis are huge, particularly where delivering aid inside Syria and securing funds for that are concerned. The number of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries has reached 1.4 million, and I’ve seen for myself the strain this is putting on the relief effort on a recent visit to Jordan and Lebanon. We need the UK Government to press its international partners to increase support for the UN’s Syrian crisis appeal, which is so underfunded that tough choices are having to be made about which people receive help. We would also like to see greater flexibility from the UN Security Council in supporting cross-border humanitarian efforts that are getting aid through to those inside Syria who are hardest to reach and often in the greatest need, ” says Jehangir Malik. Chris Doyle adds: "This is no longer just a Syrian crisis but also a Lebanese crisis, a Turkish crisis, a Jordanian crisis – a true regional disaster.  Today every area in Syria is unsafe, every family is affected and every child traumatised.  The only guaranteed prediction one can make is that it will get worse, much worse. The only thing that gives hope is the extraordinary courage and determination of ordinary Syrians, who never tire of working for their communities, keeping services running and trying to build a future in the face of this horror." Since 2011 Islamic Relief has run an extensive relief operation both inside Syria and in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, benefiting over 1.1 million people last year alone – 800,000 in Syria and the rest in neighbouring countries. Within Syria a network of Syrian staff are risking their lives to provide food aid, sanitation, medical care and non-food items such as blankets and mattresses. Over the last two years, Caabu has played an important role in ensuring that the Syria crisis remains visible in the UK media and in Parliament.  It has focused on supporting civil society in Syria to address urgent needs, and on pushing for both humanitarian and political solutions.