Millions of Syrians Face Freezing Temperatures as Harshest Winter in a Century Sets in

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

December 12, 2013

The Syrian Coalition appeals to regional and international relief agencies, governmental and non-governmental, to provide additional aid and winter supplies for people in need inside and outside Syria.

More than 4 million internally displaced persons in Syria and more than 2 million refugees in neighboring countries are desperately short of thick blankets, winter materials, and heating systems, as the harshest winter in a century sets in. When they could not find winter clothes, thousands of Syrian parents resorted to wrapping their children in newspapers to protect their fragile bodies against sub-zero temperatures. It is unfortunate that a child, Hussein al-Taweel, 6 months, froze to death in Aleppo, on Wednesday, December 11, and there are reports of 3 other cases across Syria.

We urge the international community to step up efforts aimed at providing immediate basic assistance and winter supplies to Syrian men, women, and children. The Syrian Coalition’s Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) is committed to supervising the delivery of direct urgent assistance to people most in need in liberated areas, in full cooperation with rebel fighters in those areas.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.