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Dear friends,
In a matter of days
tens of thousands of families have run for their lives, fleeing bombs, fighter jets, and alleged chemical attacks that have left horrific burns across children's bodies.
Turkey's invasion of northern Syria is a humanitarian catastrophe --
forcing many global aid groups to flee the fighting! But one brave aid outfit still on the ground is providing emergency food and medical care to people who need it most.
Amazingly, our movement has backed this team before! When hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees were brutally exiled from Burma, Partners Relief & Development was at the border immediately, providing food, housing and medicine… saving thousands of lives.
Now in Syria, these heroes have already reached tens of thousands with emergency kitchens and aid distribution. But with so many people on the move,
they've appealed directly to our community to help feed, clothe and house desperate refugees.
If we all chip in, we can move real resources fast to save lives in Syria, and power our advocacy for peace and refugee rights everywhere!
This is urgent -- donate what you can today!
The so-called ceasefire in northern Syria is not holding, and the violence continues. Turkish forces have rained down bombs on medics and journalists, and there are multiple reports of victims horrifically burned with what experts say look like white phosphorous bombs: evidence of potential war crimes.
This carnage is why our community sprung into action this month
calling on major governments to ban arms sales to Turkey. Avaazers have sent thousands of messages and phone calls to lawmakers and leaders in the EU and the US, demanding urgent measures to isolate Turkey, and to bring all sides of the conflict to the table for negotiations!
But while we push for peace, the brutal offensive continues: a Kurdish spokesperson has called Turkey's invasion "
the biggest ethnic cleansing operation of the 21st century."
The violence in Syria has been unfolding for so long, sometimes it can feel hopeless. But our brave partners on the ground have
a simple, stirring motto: "To love is to act." Imagine the amount of love we can send, and the lives we can touch, if tens of thousands of us act right now!
And if we raise enough we can back this lifesaving aid with media, targeted ads and tenacious advocacy to fight for peace and long-term solutions for refugees.
Chip in what you can now, to save lives in Syria:
Our movement has stood with the people of Syria since the beginning. At every critical moment, we were there, pushing world governments to create civilian safe zones and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and fighting for long-term peace. Today thousands of Syrian families are fleeing for their lives, desperately searching for shelter and food. They need our help. Let's show them they're not alone.
To love is to act,
Joseph, Rewan, Wissam, Will, Bert and the whole Avaaz team
PS - This might be your first donation to our movement ever. But what a first donation! Did you know that Avaaz relies entirely on small donations from members like you? That's why we're fully independent, nimble and effective. Join the over 1 million people who've donated to make Avaaz a real force for good in the world.
More information:Partners Relief & Development
https://www.partners.ngoSyria conflict: Kurds urge humanitarian corridor to evacuate dead and wounded (The Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-conflict-kurds-death-isis-raids-evacuate-turkey-a9160426.htmlHumanitarian Crisis Looming for the Kurds in Northern Syria (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/humanitarian-crisis-looming-the-kurds-northern-syriaSyria: UN remains concerned for safety of civilians in the north-east (UN OCHA)
https://www.unocha.org/story/syria-un-remains-concerned-safety-civilians-north-eastWhy aid groups are leaving Syria as another humanitarian crisis unfolds (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/10/16/why-aid-groups-are-leaving-syria-another-humanitarian-crisis-unfolds/Turkey accused of war crimes after suspected white phosphorous use against Kurds in Syria (Newsweek)
https://www.newsweek.com/turkey-accused-war-crimes-suspected-white-phosphorous-chemical-weapons-use-against-kurds-syria-1466248Bloodied clothes and body bags: Kurds mourn dead in Syria (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/syria-turkey-conflict-kurds-border-fighting-trump-deaths
