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UK humanitarian funding to Syria threatens to exclude local aid organisations from leading their own country’s recovery

Syria Relief/Action For Humanity Urges UK Government to Prioritise Local Aid Organisations in Humanitarian Efforts for Syria

Leading humanitarian organisation Syria Relief, and its parent charity Action for Humanity, is concerned over the UK government’s recent allocation of humanitarian aid for Syria and highlights the lack of support for local aid groups working on the front lines.

On 15 December, the UK unveiled plans for a £50 million humanitarian aid package for Syria and neighbouring countries. While £30 million of this funding is earmarked for aid within Syria, the majority—£24 million—will be channelled through large international agencies such as the United Nations to provide food, shelter, healthcare, and infrastructure support. An additional £20 million is allocated for refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, with funds directed to the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

While welcoming the UK’s commitment to addressing Syria’s humanitarian crisis, Syria Relief expresses disappointment that local organisations were not included as key funding recipients.

From Yarub Asfari, Northern Syria Country Director for Syria Relief:

“International aid must prioritise those who are already on the ground and ready to act. By working more directly with local partners, we can ensure resources reach the people who need them most, without unnecessary delays.”

Syria Relief stands ready to collaborate with the UK government and other stakeholders to maximise the impact of aid and deliver hope to Syria’s most vulnerable communities.

Founded in the early days of the Syrian conflict, Syria Relief is a critical lifeline for communities across the country. In recent weeks alone, its teams have evacuated families to safety, distributed food, blankets, and emergency supplies to displaced people, and operated essential health clinics, including paediatric and maternity care.

Despite their proven impact, local organisations face ongoing challenges in accessing international funding. This is part of a broader trend that Syria Relief says undermines the global commitment made at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit to empower local aid groups.

The charity is urging the UK government and other donors to streamline funding processes to ensure a greater share of aid reaches local organisations. They stress that simplifying bureaucratic hurdles and fast-tracking funding assessments would significantly enhance the speed and effectiveness of humanitarian responses.

From Othman Moqbel, CEO of Syria Relief’s parent organisation Action For Humanity

Local and national partners are the backbone of effective humanitarian action, and they must be given the resources and support to carry out their work. It is essential that donors take immediate steps to streamline the funding process, allowing for a greater percentage of aid to go directly to local NGOs.”

Notes to editors:

Action For Humanity provides aid and assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters. We are the parent charity of Syria Relief, the UK’s largest Syria-focused humanitarian aid organisation. As an NGO we are guided by our drive to help others, not profit. Based in Manchester, Action For Humanity has operations in Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, the UK, and several other regions. We have operated throughout Syria for over a decade, responding to crises and developing communities. In 2022, Action For Humanity supported a remarkable 4.8 million people across the globe.

PRESS CONTACTS

Jake Marais PR and Communications, Action For Humanity

jacob.marais@actionforhumanity.org

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