Charities coalition urges youth support for humanitarian aid for Syria

The Humanitarian Group for Syria, a coalition of three British charities, has launched a campaign urging young people to show their support for humanitarian aid for the people of Syria.

The Help for Syria campaign follows two years of conflict in Syria in which an estimated 80,000 or more people have been killed, over four million people internally displaced, and 1.4 million people leaving as refugees in neighbouring countries.

The coalition consists of three UK-based Syria focused charities: Hand in Hand for Syria, Syria Relief and Human Care Syria. It is a non-political, non-fundraising umbrella organisation.

Basil Hatahet, Chair of Humanitarian Group for Syria, said: "Young people have the networks, energy and passion needed to unleash a tsunami of humanitarian relief for Syria.

“We want to let the young people of Britain know that they can make a difference to the lives of ordinary Syrians and show them the best ways to do it.”

The Help Syria Campaign urges young people to:

• spread the message about Syria
   
• let people know about legitimate charities they can support
   
• give money where they can
   
• give time where possible
   
• share the campaign through their social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

The group invited other charities and individuals to join the campaign. The Help for Syria campaign will travel to universities and colleges across Britain for a month to screen films and hold discussions.

The group emphasises that, as well as urging people to make a difference, they were also encouraging them to make a positive difference by supporting legitimate charities and donating to registered UK charities to make sure that every penny counts.