As Syrian Crisis Spirals into Free Fall, ‘Big Heart’ Campaign Mobilizing a Financial Parachute in Biggest Humanitarian Appeal in Human History

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, July 2nd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

With the Syrian catastrophe plunging into an uncontrolled nose-dive, the UAE public converged on streets and social networks to mobilize awareness, funds and hope for refugees. An emotional street parade in Sharjah on World Refugee Day resonated across the Twitterverse, where in 48 hours the ‘Big Heart for Syrian Refugee Children’ campaign attracted 8,000 prospective humanitarians.
The crisis now holds the unwanted world record as the biggest humanitarian appeal in human history, with over 3.6 million Syrians needing $5 billion for life-saving and life-changing interventions.
Spearheading the appeal is “The Big Heart”, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children. Her campaign uses a kaleidoscopic fusion of hard-hitting viral videos, social media and on-the-ground engagement to trigger global participation.
In a tragic domino effect of falling communities, the Syrian bloodbath evicted 40,000 Iraqi refugees who were rebuilding the pieces of their shattered lives; fleeing certain death in Syria back to probable death in Iraq.
Daily 7,000 new refugees, including pregnant women in labor, prematurely-born babies, grandparents, paralyzed casualties and terminally-ill patients literally on their deathbeds, dodge rockets and skyrocketing temperatures; playing deadly guessing-games to navigate hidden landmines and escape their burning motherland.
Noura Al Noman, Director of the Executive Office of HH Sheikha Jawaher, observed: “Without action, words of support remain exactly that: only words. Refugees need action, and they need it fast. Whenever we think they’ve hit rock bottom, they’re plunged to devastating new lows. We’re deeply touched by the unprecedented outpouring of public solidarity for the ‘Big Heart for Syrian Refugee Children’ campaign. But 7,000 refugees arrive daily with only the clothes on their backs and the hope in their hearts. Hope is the only reason many cling to life for another day; let’s prove the humanitarian spirit is bulletproof.”
Just as drowning victims sometimes drag their rescuers to the seafloor, the titanic collapse of Syria’s economy risks dragging down its neighbors Lebanon and Jordan, who are pleading for $830 million to keep their refugee facilities afloat.
But according to Imran Riza, UNHCR Regional Representative to the GCC Countries, the most shocking effects are invisible to the naked eye: “Syrian children carry horrific psychological traumas, which are socio-cultural time-bombs for future generations. Over 10 million Syrians could be refugees or internally displaced by year-end. With half their population dependent on aid, ‘crisis’ becomes a colossal understatement.”  
Donors can make life-saving contributions to the ‘Big Heart for Syrian Refugee Children’ campaign. Funds are collected through ‘Salam Ya Seghar’, endorsed by HH Sheikha Jawaher. SMS “Donate” (Etisalat network): 2000(AED10), 2002(AED50), 2003(AED100)
Bank Details:
Account Number: 0034430430012 / IBAN: AE580410000034430430012

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Contacts

The Executive Office of HH Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi
Amel Anbar Bashir Ali, +971-6-594-1115/ +971-6-594-1111/ +971-6-594-1103
amel.b@hheo.ae

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