ATLANTA (Nov. 30, 2016) — Global humanitarian organization CARE is calling for an immediate end to attacks on civilians in and around Aleppo and for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in most desperate need.
“We are running out of words to describe the horrendous actions being committed against the civilian population of Aleppo,” said Christina Northey, country director for CARE in Turkey, who oversees partnership programming for the agency in northern Syria. “Children, mothers, families are living in desperate fear, none of them knowing whether they will see tomorrow. This madness must end.”
After almost 100 days under siege by Russian and Syrian armed forces, and with reports of opposition forces preventing some people from leaving, fighting and shelling in eastern Aleppo has intensified since mid-November, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians, and destroying and damaging civilian infrastructure, including all remaining hospitals. At least 250,000 people have been under the bombardment of air strikes and missiles, with ground forces taking some of the neighborhoods in recent days.
CARE calls on all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and on the international community to demand the protection of civilians.
CARE was supporting a partner-operated community kitchen in eastern Aleppo until October, when the humanitarian blockade prevented further assistance. CARE continues to support partner agencies providing emergency food baskets, hygiene kits, mattresses and blankets to displaced families in the countryside outside of Aleppo.
About CARE
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. That’s why women and girls are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve education and health, create economic opportunity, respond to emergencies and confront hunger. Last year CARE worked in 95 countries and reached more than 65 million people around the world. To learn more, visit www.care.org.
Media Contacts
Brian Feagans, bfeagans@care.org; 404-979-9453
Nicole Harris, nharris@care.org, 404-735-0871