UOSSM USA, in collaboration with Bareeq Education held an open house on Wednesday Dec. 7, part of our participation in the #16Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign. Several NGOs were invited to participate in the even including Syrian American Medical Society – SAMS, Danish Refugee Council – DRC, International Medical Corps – IMC, and Tamkeen. The event, led by women and attended by women, included several GBV awareness sessions led by partners, UOSSM USA, SAMS, DRC, Tamkeen, and IMC. The event also included a teen drawing session, and a mini bazaar for women. The event lasted from 10 am – 3 pm and was attended by over 100 women and girls ages 14-55, including Syrian refugees and host communities.
Girls and women walked away from the event understanding that they have the power to succeed…they have the power to walk away from abuse…and they know how to help others in abusive relationships. You can click here to watch a video about the event!
Families of special needs children in Jordan find great difficulties providing their children with the dental care that they desperately need. Unfortunately, many of the health needs of these children get pushed aside as if their health is not as important or relevant. Even if families are able to find care for these children it can become very costly, and out of reach for many families. So, on Friday, November 4, UOSSM USA, in collaboration with Director of Al-Hannan Hospital Bassam Alzuobi, and Dr. Serena AbuDayyeh, provided 3 special needs children with full anesthesia in the hospital so they can get the complete dental services they need in one time.
The three children who received the dental services are Asma from Jordan (5 years old) who suffers from Down’s Syndrome, Yousef from Gaza Strip (resides in Jordan) (6 years old) who suffers from Autism, and Tala from Jordan (10 years old) who suffers from Down’s Syndrome. All of the children had multiple cavities and other dental problems and could not receive the dental services they need without complete anesthesia. Their families were so grateful and overjoyed, that the pain their children were experiencing were alleviated and could now eat without pain!
This is all part of UOSSM USA’s Surgeries project that aims to provide a variety of surgeries, free of charge, to refugee, needy, and other underserved families in Jordan, who would otherwise not have the access or the means for these vital surgical operations/procedures. This will ultimately help improve the health and overall wellbeing, and alleviate the suffering of these families.
Vision impairment or vision loss can be a major burden on anyone, but can be especially difficult if that person does not have the means or access for the surgery to repair it. That is why UOSSM USA chose to provide five ophthalmic surgeries to Syrian refugees in Jordan in September. Most of these patients have been suffering silently for years with continued deterioration of vision.
Four of the surgeries were cataract (Phaco+iol) surgeries, and one was a cross linking surgery. All of the patients were experiencing moderate to complete vision loss.
One of the patients was a pregnant woman who was in danger of losing her sight since doctors refused to do the surgery until after she delivered her baby – out of fear that the X-Ray would harm the fetus. She struggled every day, and finally, nine months later, after she delivered her healthy baby, she had the cross-linking surgery.
All five surgeries were a complete success and the patients are able to see clearly again! The surgeries were performed by Dr. Muhammad Huwari.
The ophthalmic surgeries are part of the UOSSM USA Surgeries project which aims to provide a variety of surgeries, free of charge, to refugee, needy, and other underserved families in Jordan, who would otherwise not have access or the means for these vital surgical operations. This will help improve their health and overall wellbeing, and alleviate their suffering.
Even the most minor of illnesses can become a major burden on refugee families who don’t have the financial means to get the medical care needed in host countries. There is nothing more painful than watching your child suffer without the ability to alleviate their suffering.
To help ease the suffering of the children, and their families, UOSSM USA provided eight tonsillectomies in August, to Syrian refugee children in Jordan, who have been suffering from illness, infections, high fevers, and difficulty sleeping. Four of the patients were from Al-Emirati Camp and four were from Amman.
Parents were put at ease knowing their children will no longer suffer, and the children will heal and lead better lives without constantly being sick.
UOSSM led a medical mission in Ukraine, in partnership with the David Nott Foundation (DNF), for two weeks in early June. The surgical trainings, Hostile Environment Surgical Trainings (HEST) were led by world renowned war surgeon Dr. David Nott, and his team from the UK, Drs. Pete Mathew and Ammar Darwish. The surgical trainings were planned and facilitated by Dr. Ahmad Dbais and the UOSSM Ukraine team. Dr. Khaula Sawah and Dr. Monzer Yazji, both co-founders of UOSSM USA, joined the surgical trainings.
Ukraine Surgical Medical Mission
The HEST training included one three-day course in Dnipro, where 38 surgeons received the training, and another three-day training in Kharkiv, where 30 surgeons received the intensive training course. These areas have both been under fire over the past few weeks. The trainee surgeons were very appreciative and engaged with the training courses.
UOSSM Led Surgical Medical Mission
One complicated surgery was also performed on a patient with war wounds.
Dr. Nott posted on the David Nott Foundation page, “We want doctors to feel empowered – sometimes all that’s needed is confidence. We want doctors to feel inspired to learn and try the techniques they’ve seen on our course.”
UOSSM and DNF teams on Surgical Medical Mission in Ukraine
Dr. Nott partnered with UOSSM in the past to provide these vital trainings to Syrian doctors in Syria and Turkey, to train them to save lives from war wounds and injuries.
Dr. Sawah met with the director of the Ukrainian Ministry of Public Health Center of Emergency Medical Aid and Disaster Medicine, Dr. Vitaliy Kryliuk (Віталій Крилюк) after the Dnipro training. Dr. Kruylik was very appreciative of the work UOSSM along with DNF is doing on the ground in Ukraine. Dr. Kruylik emphasized on the importance to provide doctors and surgeons with more advanced, structured, vital trainings, and to provide Training of Trainers (ToTs) courses to advance the skills of Ukrainian surgeons to handle and treat war zone injuries in particular on the frontlines to train fellow Ukrainian surgeons.
Dr. Sawah met with the director of the Ukrainian Ministry of Public Health Center of Emergency Medical Aid and Disaster Medicine, Dr. Vitaliy Kryliuk
UOSSM doctors felt the duty to provide Ukrainian doctors and patients with support and invaluable expertise gained from the 11-year Syrian crisis.
Surgeons receiving HEST training in Ukraine
Dr. Sawah said, “We know exactly how the Ukrainian doctors and civilians are feeling, and what they are experiencing. The brutal effects of war…the fear…the helplessness…the uncertainty…that is why we chose to share our experiences and expertise gained over the past 11 years in Syria, with the Ukrainian people. We want to help save lives. It was heartwarming to see people just come up to us and thank us for our support especially after they knew where we came from and what we have been doing for over a decade in Syria. We hope to continue to have more impact in Ukraine, supporting civilians with medical and humanitarian relief, and doctors and healthcare professionals with vital training and support to help save lives.”
Dr. Sawah added, “The UOSSM Ukraine team is making a difference every day with these trainings, mental health workshops, and medical and humanitarian relief amid the massive displacement during the last three months. I would also like to personally thank Dr. Sasha, a young Ukrainian orthopedic surgeon, who played a vital role in the trainings by translating and explaining the complete course materials, and helping to create an engaging environment with the Ukrainian surgeons.”
You can support our work in Ukraine by clicking here.
You can learn about our work in Ukraine by clicking here.
In the US, thousands of Syrian refugees are granted temporary residency extensions. The US Department of Homeland Security made the decision because letting the immigrants return will be too risky given the ongoing turmoil in Syria. The reprieve from deportation was supposed to be terminated on March 31, but it will now end in September 2022.
What Does This Mean?
How do Syrian refugees get into the US? Suppose a foreign citizen lacks any other kind of legal residency and comes from a nation where returning will jeopardize their lives. In that case, temporary status allows them to stay in the US., and because of the country’s ongoing war, Syria satisfies these criteria.
The number of refugees escaping violence or persecution in their native countries to pursue safety in other countries has skyrocketed over the last years. More refugees are in the US than in all other countries combined in the past years.
Furthermore, before refugees can be admitted into the country, the government has imposed new security vetting procedures. Unfortunately, this has greatly increased waiting times and left many refugees in dangerous situations for long periods.
Who Is Considered a Refugee?
The US law defines this as someone unable or unwilling to go back to their country of origin because of a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on affiliation, national origin, political beliefs, race, or religion.
Only a small part of the entire population of forcefully displaced people is included in the international definition of a “refugee.” For other causes such as resource scarcity and harsh weather occurrences, people who leave their homes are not considered refugees and may not qualify for asylum.
In 2020, there were 26.3 million refugees worldwide, up from 15.2 million in 2010, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). About half of the refugee population is made up of children under eighteen.
Here are the countries with the most refugees:
Syria (6.6 million)
Afghanistan (2.7 million)
South Sudan (2.2 million)
Myanmar (1.1 million)
Somalia (1.1 million)
How Does the US Determine the Number of Refugee Admission?
Each year, the President, in collaboration with Congress, establishes a numerical limit for refugee admissions. Two main departments analyze the feasibility of different refugee groups for admittance. These are the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
A new all-time low of eighteen thousand was set for FY 2020, down from the previous all-time low of thirty thousand set in FY 2019. Because the refugee resettlement program was temporarily paused during the COVID-19 epidemic, this low maximum was not achieved in FY 2020.
Will These Conditions Affect Latin Americans?
After emphasizing the country’s economic woes, Biden also promised to provide refuge to Venezuelan immigrants. His predecessor, Donald Trump, had already done so through a similar program before leaving office.
Right now, an option of designating Guatemala and Honduras for the program, which might wind up sheltering over a million people, is also being explored by the Biden administration.
Conclusion
Sadly, the global refugee crisis has worsened over the past couple of years. In addition to humane policies that governments need to set forth worldwide, social changes must be made. It includes addressing the root causes of conflict to benefit the ones most affected by this problem and the future children of the planet.
If you want to know how to help Syrian refugees, get in touch with UOSSM. We are a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable, independent, non-government, medical humanitarian organization incorporated in Texas. Donate today and make a difference.
There are many ways to help and support Syrian children and their families, and support the work of UOSSM USA! One of the best and easiest ways is to become a fundraising ambassador for the Syrian people!
You can easily create a fundraiser on Facebook if you have a Facebook account by following these instructions:
To Set Up A Facebook Fundraiser:
1. Sign on to your individual Facebook account and go to your homepage. On the left-hand side find CREATE. Under CREATE select FUNDRAISERS.
2. On the Create a Fundraiser screen, select GET STARTED.
3. You will see the 3 options asking “Who are you raising money for?” SELECT nonprofit and then SELECT UOSSM USA.
4. You will select how much you want to fundraise and when your fundraiser will end. You can start and stop a fundraiser at any time!
5. You will then click NEXT, where you will see the title of the fundraiser and below it why you are raising money for UOSSM USA. The information automatically gets filled in, but you are welcome to add your personal touch to this part. You will then select NEXT.
6. You then need to select a cover photo, the cover photo from UOSSM USA’s Facebook page, automatically uploads, but you can choose any photo you like.
7. After that you click CREATE and the Fundraiser will be live! Please share with your friends and families.
The donate button will link directly to the UOSSM USA Facebook donate button without leaving Facebook!
Happy Fundraising! We hope you will choose to try to help in this way, and of course if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us! We would love to know if you choose to help! connect@uossm.us
Many countries all over the world face several kinds of crises. Syria is one of many that has bored the brunt of multiple tough situations, placed in the middle of conflict for the longest time. There are still millions of refugees who are still in need of proper aid.
While many have already been assisted to safety and security, many Syrian children are still quite vulnerable to a variety of these disasters that require urgent health. Although multiple individuals and organizations strive to do their part, there‘s still a long way to go.
Continue reading for an overview of the dire situation that Syrian refugee children face:
What Do Syrian Refugees Face?
The Syrian civil war encompasses so much bloodshed over the last decade, affecting the lives of so many families in the Middle East. Although many can escape or get adopted for a better home, there are still many who have to experience the reality of the ongoing conflict. The effects are as follows:
Informal Settlements Within Camps.
Men, children, and women are all scattered and displaced all over different countries due to Syria’s state as a warzone. Some are in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and more, with plenty separated from their families.
The Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
Health facilities aren’t accessible enough to many Syrian refugees. It’s even more of a familiar story when the younger ones aren’t registered in the country and are refused the proper care and service they need.
Education Inaccessibility.
It’s a natural stage for children to enroll and learn many things, but Syrian children aren’t able to have that kind of luxury. Not only is there an imbalance between students and teachers, but the facilities aren’t available either.
Scarcity of Resources.
Food and water are quite hard to come by, which can often worsen the health condition of a child. Plus, the lack of these basic necessities can result in a decline in their psychosocial well-being.
Disregard of Children’s Rights.
In an environment where survival of the fittest is respected, children and disabled youth are at a disadvantage as they’re treated as mere commodities. Child labor and early marriage are simply normalized.
How Is the Situation Approached?
Many humanitarian organizations under UNICEF’s Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan, alongside the No Lost Generation initiative, will seek to help at least 3,000,000 displaced Syrian children. We aim to provide different programs that will tackle each issue faced, ensure quality access and recognize the rights of these children to live a better life.
How Can You Help with the Situation?
Being able to participate in these efforts in any way that you can is quite important to ensure that every single child will be given aid. Consider donating or becoming a volunteer during these tough times to continue these humanitarian operations and community outreach programs. You can also look into housing a child of your own to give them a new life.
Conclusion
Every human has the right to nutrition, education, proper health, and protection, and that statement is even truer for children. As many of them face such disasters, it’s important to extend a hand and home when we can.
UOSSM USA is a nonprofit and non-government medical humanitarian organization that’s incorporated in the state of Texas. Reach out with us today.
Refugees stranded at the Greek-Turkish land border and blocked by a hastily built wall have become the symbol of a crisis that has deeply shaken relations between Greece and Turkey. Athens has repeatedly denounced what it calls Turkey’s “unacceptable” behavior, and lack of cooperation in the face of the massive migrant flows toward Europe.
Based on the EU-Turkey deal of 2016, Greece, which is part of Europe, sends incoming irregular migrants to Turkey instead. In exchange, Turkey will receive €6 billion in aid from the EU for its migrant communities. Moreover, Turkey has increased its measures to prevent illegal migration. It’s clear as day that this agreement is a political strategy that benefits EU countries; however, it compromises refugees’ rights, hence, the backlash. Despite the criticisms, it still moved forward.
The Reopening of Borders
Since the agreement between the EU and Turkey, the latter tried its best to prevent the influx of illegal migrations. However, over the years, there have been accusations that the promised funding to support the millions of refugees in Turkey wasn’t given.
Turkey’s President Erdogan announced the opening of the Greek-Turkish border. Following the announcement, hundreds of refugees rushed towards the border to gain access to the EU.
A Political Move
Turkey’s move to open the borders may be its way to pressure the EU to cooperate. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of migrants, where they were pushed back violently by the Greek border security.
Greece is NOT the Gateway to Europe
The Greek Migration Minister, Notis Mitarakis, responded to the influx of immigrants to the border by introducing migration legislation to accelerate deportations. There were concerning clauses on the country’s new stance on migration that is being heavily scrutinized globally.
Due to the new law, the border is loaded with the military, migrants are detained in poor conditions, and the grace period for voluntary deportations has been drastically shortened from 30 days to a week. Furthermore, the border police were given the right to deport migrants under the jurisdiction of migrant authorities.
Despite the international criticisms, Mitarakis remains firm in his stance and reiterates that Greece will not be the gateway to Europe.
A Dangerous Migratory Loop
The EU has sparked tension between Turkey and Greece while putting the lives of immigrants at risk. Moreover, the EU has failed to maintain the conditions in their deal with Turkey that have put so many human lives at risk. Aside from this, Greece will have to face severe backlash due to its migration policy. There are also questions about the funding it received from the EU and its use.
Moving Forward
Indeed, the EU has manufactured a crisis between Greece and Turkey that could have been prevented. After all, the EU-Turkey agreement was only meant to be a temporary solution, yet it’s no excuse for the current human rights violations.
Member states, EU institutions, and Turkey should work on a compromise to prioritize the rights of the refugees and build an asylum system that works.
A Growing Divide
Crisis makes strange bedfellows, and the refugee crisis has made an awkward tension between Greece and Turkey. Though they’re both geographically part of Europe and their languages are mutually intelligible, their cultural ties to the West and Asia, respectively, leave them on opposite sides of this growing divide. For Greece, it’s not necessarily a question of escaping the rising tide of refugees but whether to continue holding up one half of a bridge to Western Europe.
Are you wonderinghow to help Syrian refugees? UOSSM is a nonprofit, 501 charitable, non-government, medical humanitarian organization. Donate now.
The International Rescue Committee provides humanitarian aid to Syrians by supporting local aid workers to help them get food, jobs, and education. In the United States, you can volunteer at a local resettlement office to provide support to those resettling. Other than that, you can also lend a hand to Syrian refugees in more than two ways.
Here are some of the things you can do to help them:
Look Into the International Red Cross
An estimated two million people in Syria need safe water and hygiene items. To help them, you can look into to the International Red Cross, which will be using the donations to provide hygiene items such as baby diapers, sanitary pads, and soap to those in need.
There are also urgent needs in the refugee camps; you can donate money to the United Nations’ refugee agency to help them provide essential items such as blankets and clothes.
Donate to the Syrian Children’s Relief Fund
The Syrian Children’s Relief Fund provides medical supplies and treatments to Syrian children, and you can donate to them to aid them in their cause. For every $15 donation, you will be given a chance to win a prize.
3. Organize Fundraisers and Personal Campaigns
Hosting fundraising events is a reasonably good way to contribute to the cause. You can ask your family and friends for donations, and you can also organize a raffle or a silent auction. You can even arrange a bake sale for this cause—the money you get from the proceeds of the sale will be donated to Syrian refugees.
Organize a media campaign by spreading awareness through the use of social media. While you can help refugees through the Internet, you can also help them by simply spreading awareness.
Help with Legal Support
Syrian refugees cannot leave the refugee camps unless they have someone to sponsor them. If you have family or friends who are willing to support them, you can help by providing legal advice on how to go about it.
Support the Resettlement of Syrian Refugees
Since finding homes for Syrian refugees is the hardest part, you can help by showing support for those willing to resettle the refugees in their own homes. You can also attend their community meetings or join potlucks.
According to an article by the New York Times, a community in Denver is willing to resettle 90 Syrians in its own homes. If you are eager to do so, you can help by providing sponsorships, donations, or even by going to community events.
Support Doctors and Medical Needs
The health system has collapsed in Syria, and the doctors willing to stay there are suffering from bombings and attacks. You can help by providing doctors with emergency kits and medical supplies or sending them money to help with their operating costs.
Conclusion
The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the biggest tragedies in recent memory. It is a humanitarian disaster beyond our imagination, and more than anything, it is a problem that requires our full attention.
There are plenty of ways you can help out those in need, and we are glad to be in the position to enlighten you on the things you can do to help the Syrian refugees out.
Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations-USA (UOSSM USA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable, independent, non-government, medical humanitarian organization incorporated in Texas. We provide life-saving medical humanitarian relief and access to quality healthcare and mental health services to people most in need and communities affected by crises, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or political affiliation. If you want to know more about how to help Syrian refugees, get in touch with us! We can help you get your support across to them.
