[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees:“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.

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Sweets For The School Children (Day 3) – 18 March 2015

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Salaams all,

Today we had breakfast again at Abu Hamid’s at 9.00hrs. Our program for today felt like it was going to be very easy because we only had 70 parcels to distribute in Billani. On our way there we bought some sweets for the school children. When we arrived in Billani village there was already a crowd waiting for us and crowded the van even before we could get out, after about 20 mins of trying to convince them to go and wait in their home or what resembles a home we sent the van with the food parcels away and said to them that if they didn’t return to their homes we are just going to give the school children the sweets and leave without doing any distribution as we started giving the sweets to the children in the classrooms the crowd dispersed so we eventually got the distribution on the way. The first 10-11 houses went well and then the crowd started following us because we missed some houses (we were only distributing to the homes of those the village chief told us were the most needy)

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees:“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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Refugees Are In Desperate Need For Aid (Day 2) – 17 March 2015

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Salaams all,

We had breakfast at Abu Hamid’s today at 8.30 hrs and then we made a quick consultation and we decided we will do 2 things today:
1) go and see head of border security to see if we can cross over to Atmeh Camp
2) visit 2 villages called Billani and Hassa that Hiba identified as in desperate need for food aid.

Abu Abdullah quickly made the calls and managed to get an appointment to see head of border security for 10.00hrs. We met with him for just over an hour. He informed us that all borders into Syria are closed and even if he could arrange for us to go to Atmeh the security risk is too high and the atmosphere in the camp is very tense. Therefore any hope of crossing to Atmeh have now been cancelled and instead concentrate on aid distribution in Turkey. There is a new influx of refugees coming into Turkey from Syria. Since I arrived on Sunday I have been hearing of reports and have seen pictures of what looks like chemical weapons being used on the civilian population by the Syrian army and I suspect the fear of further chemical attack is driving this new wave of refugees.
We arrived in Billani a village situated approx. 1km from Baabul Hawwa border crossing and 8 kms from Reyhanli. We quickly saw that the refugees are in desperate need for aid. To my absolute surprise there was a refugee school being run in 4 prefabricated building each about 8ft x10ft which were provided by AFAD who I am told have something to do with the UN. The school has about 150 children from the age of 5 to 10/11 years of age. The 4 teachers who are also Syrian refugees teach for free.

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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Arrival in Turkey (Day 1) – 16 March 2015

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Salaams all,

We started the day a little late as only arrived at 6.00hrs this morning and then went for breakfast so it was 11.30 by the time we got started.

As I was told the border to the Atmeh camp is closed indefinitely, decided that we should look for areas where no food distribution has been done or at least not much. My suggestion that we go to the little border settlements (right on the border) which we were told of on my last trip were quickly ruled out as we did our risk assessment. Abu Abdullah made a number of calls and came up with the little town called Kumlu 20 km from Reyhanli, not far from the border.

We went straight to see the Mayor/Councillor, had to wait for approx. 20 minutes to see him as he was busy with current election. We eventually met with him and he was very happy to receive us. We discussed our plans and he straight away got someone who knows how many refugees in this area and this man not only knows how many but where most also living so he told that man and the deputy of the police to accompany us to visit some off these families. On seeing these families we could see that nearly all of them were worse off than most families we saw last time. We have therefore decided that we will definitely do a distribution in Kumlu Tuesday or Wednesday Insha’Allah.

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey