Sponsorship From Malaysians Can Help Syrian Children Live Their Dream

From Nor Baizura Basri JARABULUS (Syria), July 1 (Bernama) -- Despite the painful experiences they endured, Syrian refugee children are still able to put a big smile on their faces to the Malaysian humanitarian mission team visiting refugee camps around this city. Children are among those worst affected by the war in Syria that escalated in 2011, with many of them becoming orphans or losing at least one parent. ATAA Foundation Programme director Abdul Aziz Mansour said the sponsorship provided by Malaysians would greatly help these orphans or poor families to rebuild their lives after being badly affected by the war. “According to the statistic, more than 1.2 million children in northern Syria have become orphans because of the bombardment and displacement from one area to another area. “So, in this case, we would like to ask for a full sponsorship package to help support these orphans and families in need,” he said this when met after presenting aid to several poor families and internally displaced persons (IDPs) together with Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) and Econsave at a refugee camp here, Thursday. The aid was in the form of, among others, cash, wheelchairs and food boxes. According to Abdul Aziz, the sponsorship programme for the orphans and poor families at refugee camps which has been implemented over the past six years, had helped support the education as well as provide protection and other necessities to these groups. “Until last year, 20,000 children have benefitted from this programme and the need is increasing,” he added. Meanwhile, MyCARE’s board of trustee member Dr Mohd Zin Kandar said the sponsorship programme for orphans and poor families had been implemented by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) since 2010. “Among the first recipients were Palestinian children in Lebanon, Beirut in 2010. We have a special unit that runs the programme and we obtain data from NGOs that are also our strategic partners in Lebanon, Gaza and Salam Association in Jabalia, as well as in Iraq, Syria and the Philippines,” he said. Mohd Zin said the cost of sponsoring orphans in Palestine, Syria and Iraq, was US$50 a month and from US$100 to US$250 per month for poor families. Those who wish to participate in the programme can contact the MyCARE Orphan Sponsorship Unit at 013-7444760 or 03-89412341 (Raimi Sayuti). -- BERNAMA