Dear Supporter,

A humanitarian funding crisis has come at the very worst time for the people of Syria.

As violence escalates in the north-west, reportedly killing entire families, UNHCR is facing drastic funding shortfalls. This means Syrians are at imminent risk of missing out on vital aid like shelter and blankets.

“The pace and scale of the funding cuts are a seismic shock to the sector . . . Many will die because aid is drying up,” says Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. “For the people we serve, these cuts are not abstract budget numbers – they are a matter of survival.”

This funding crisis is a catastrophe for vulnerable Syrians. Supporter, will you donate urgently to fill the gap and help save lives?

Despite the violence and fragility of the country, many Syrian refugees are choosing to return home, hopeful for new beginnings following the fall of the Assad regime.

Ibtihal, 52, recently returned to her hometown in Dar’a, southern Syria, for the first time in 12 years. The mother-of-five had been living in Jordan as a refugee during the war.

“I was shocked by the state of the entire country. The way people are living is heartbreaking,” she says.

"When I saw my home, it was in ruins. Life is truly painful – the basic necessities are missing. The sewage system is blocked and I can’t manage even the simplest things. I don't have the money to fix anything.”

Ibtihal isn’t just fighting for her family’s safety and security. She’s also fighting for her life. Ibtihal has cancer and, while she was able to receive treatment in Jordan last year, she can’t access the medical care she needs in Dar’a.

“You need to go to Damascus, but the cost of travel is too high and I simply can’t afford it,” she says. “If you want to see a specialist doctor there, it costs 150,000 Syrian pounds (AUD$18) just for the consultation. I don’t have that kind of money.”

In the face of severe funding challenges, your support is more vital than ever. Will you make an urgent donation to provide life-saving aid to Syrians in need?

Despite challenges on all fronts, Ibtihal remains hopeful. “God willing, we will live again with love and friendship, and life will return to how it was,” she says.

Supporter, please don’t forget the people of Syria at this critical time. With conflict still raging and funding at risk, your donation can make all the difference.

P.S. Due to dire funding shortfalls, UNHCR will soon have to make impossible decisions about how to prioritise life-saving assistance. Please don’t wait – your urgent donation can ensure that aid continues to reach Syrians when they need it most.