Mercy-USA for Aid and Development relief workers have been assisting Syrian refugees in Turkey and Lebanon since June 2011.
From February to March 2012, the Mercy-USA mobile clinic and other medical services have treated over 850 Syrian refugees, as well as local Lebanese host families in the Wadi Khalid region. This mobile clinic, which travels to villages where Syrian refugees are being hosted by local families, has also provided about 300 vaccinations to Syrian and Lebanese children.
From April 14 to 18, 2012, Mercy-USA distributed 525 one-month food and household packages to 525 Syrian refugee families (about 2,000 persons including 975 children) in Turkey. Eighty families housed in two villages (Guvecci and Nishrin) near the Syrian border received these packages, as well as 445 families now staying in the city of Antakya. Each package contained: 55 pounds of flour, 8.8 lb. of lentils, 4.4 lb. of rice, 4.4 lb. of potatoes,
4.4 lb. of bulgur, 4.4 lb. of beans, 4.4 lb. of zaatar, 4.4 lb. of spaghetti, 4.4 lb. of jam, 4.4 lb. of tomato paste, 4.4 lb. of pepper paste, 4.4 lb. of sugar, 2.2 lb. of tea, 2 liters of olive oil, 2 L of corn oil, one towel,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers, women’s sanitary pads, shampoo, detergent, dishwashing liquid, wipes and hand-washing liquid.
In April and May 2012, we are distributing similar one-month food and household packages to Syrian refugee families in Turkey. Each package (contents listed above) costs $110 and is intended to assist an average family of 5 persons for one month.
During May and June 2012, Mercy-USA is distributing fresh baked bread daily to Syrian refugee families in Wadi Khalid, Lebanon. The average cost is $85 for one family of five for 60 days.
From February 2012 to August 2012, we are supporting an existing health clinic ($32,000), as well as funding a mobile clinic ($2,200 per month) and purchasing a fully-equipped ambulance ($60,000)
to provide comprehensive medical services to Syrian refugees and other vulnerable persons in the economically depressed Wadi Khalid area in Lebanon.
In January 2012, we distributed 2,000 blankets and 600 mattresses to Syrian refugees living in Turkey. In Lebanon, from December 2011 to February 2012, we distributed two-month hygiene packages to 350 families,
800 winter jackets to children and fresh meat to these and other Syrian refugees living with host families in Wadi Khalid.
During August and September 2011, we provided one-month family packages containing flour, lentils, potatoes, rice, zaatar, cheese, halawa, olives, dates, tea, corn oil, sugar, floor mats, shampoo, dish and clothes
detergent and soap to 400 Syrian refugee families in Turkey, as well as one-month food packages to 300 refugee families in Lebanon. In July 2011, Mercy-USA distributed baby formula, milk, medicine, and hygiene
and household items to about 17,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey and Lebanon.
In Turkey, we provided 3,000 family packages to the 3,000 refugees families living in 5 camps (Yayladagi, Boynuyogun, Altinozu, Reyhanli & Apaydin), with host families in 3 villages (Guvecci, Nishrin & Hasma)
and in a small buffer zone along the border inside of Syria. Each family package contained baby formula and bottles, milk, watermelons and hygiene items (including diapers, baby wipes, cotton, baby cream, shampoo,
laundry detergent, soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste and facial tissues). We also distributed 400 sets of foam mattresses, floor mats and blankets to 400 families in the Reyhanli camp.
In Lebanon, we provided 500 one-month family hygiene packages to refugees living with host families in the Wadi Khalid area. Each family package contained diapers for babies, sanitary pads for women, soap,
detergent, shampoo and tea biscuits for the children. In addition, Mercy-USA provided common household medications to a local mobile clinic that is caring for these vulnerable women and children.
Dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting individuals and their communities in their efforts to become more self-sufficient, Mercy-USA for Aid and Development is a registered PVO
(Private Voluntary Organization) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and
is a member of the American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction).
