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Syria Crisis Appeal

The conflict in Syria has resulted in a severe and worsening emergency. 


More than a million refugees have now fled violence in Syria and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. Oxfam is aiming to reach 650,000 people in the coming months and calling for more international aid and a peaceful solution to the crisis.

Donate now 


Sign the Syria petition 

Video: Oxfam's response to the Syria crisis

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Updates from Oxfam

The situation

The conflict in Syria has resulted in a dramatically deteriorating humanitarian crisis. Violence continues to escalate due to fighting between government forces and opposing groups. Explosive weapons are being used in densely populated areas, resulting in widespread death, injury, and displacement.

Latest Syria Crisis Appeal videos

Many Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries in the hope of escaping violence. Over a million refugees have now been registered or are awaiting registration. Some 8,000 refugees are leaving Syria every day. Many flee with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Take action: Sign the Syria petition

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Photo credit: EPA/ BRUNO GALLARDO

What Oxfam is doing to help

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Photo credit: Sam Tarling

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Photo credit: Caroline Gluck

Oxfam's response

Oxfam is scaling up its response in Lebanon and Jordan to respond to rising needs and is exploring options to be able to work inside Syria.

In Lebanon, Oxfam is helping Palestinian refugees arriving from Syria and Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their country. Early in the year, Oxfam helped thousands of refugees cope with the cold winter weather. Oxfam and its local partners have been distributing warm clothes, mattresses, blankets, heaters, rugs, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits and plastic sheets for weather proofing.

In Jordan we're working in Za'atari refugee camp - providing people with water and sanitation facilities. We have currently reached some 20,000 Syrian refugees with emergency latrines and will soon complete shower, toilet and laundry blocks to reach 8,000. Oxfam is also coordinating hygiene training to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases.

Syria Crisis Appeal - in pictures

We have also carried out assessments to see how we can help the vulnerable refugees who are living outside the camp and in host communities over the next few months, and aim to support people with cash for rental support and basic needs, as well as improving access to safe water and public health monitoring.

Oxfam is committed to providing humanitarian assistance inside Syria to civilians and host communities. These organisations are delivering food relief, hygiene kits and other household items to help civilians in humanitarian need. Oxfam has applied for approval to work with the Ministry of Water Resources in supporting emergency water and sanitation activities throughout the country. We are exploring all methods by which to immediately and effectively assist civilians across Syria, and those Syrians in dire humanitarian need in Lebanon, Jordan and other neighbouring countries.

You can help: Donate now

Take action: Sign the Syria petition

Update: May 2013

Other ways to help