BBC Syria report

[RachelBee]

Just saw the report on the BBC of the 13 year old boy crying because there is no bread. I have seen and heard so many of the reports and cannot get over how helpless I feel to help. So...I know this may sound incredibly naive but I wondered how many other mums feel desperate to do something and whether this was a good starting point? I wondered if we could on a very simple level organise a mass collection of children's clothes and find an airline willing to fly them out at least to the refugee camps. I would gladly tip out every item of kids clothing I've been hording and give them away. I know its not bread but there has to be something we can do. All simple ideas and people willing to get involved much appreciated.

Rachel.

With the best will in the world, setting up something from scratch when there is a crisis is about the worst thing to do. Chances are that the clothes arrive late, drown the local market and stifle recovery. That is how these things work. What about finding a charity/NGO you like and giving a regular amount to them? Sell the kids' clothing to fund a donation, perhaps.

Syria is an utter mess ATM and I know that feeling of dread. When I heard about them separating the men and boys, and women and girls getting out of Homs, I got that cold, desperate feeling. You just can't solve this stuff overnight.

Rachel, that report got to me too. More than any other I've seen about the Syrian crisis. I just thought if we'd had a reporter in a WW2 concentration camp, would we have back and watched the way we are doing now?
I have 2 little boys. That 13 year old got to me and those poor desperate ladies begging for help. God.

Info on how you can help here:

www.gov.uk/government/news/syria-the-latest-updates-on-uk-aid

Agree with Terry.

Have you thought about donating through Save the Children ?

There are lots of reputable charities already working in Syria (and incidentally the UK government is giving significant financial assistance also). Save the Children is one of these charities, but many others are also organising collections and aud convoys. Just note that it is really important to only donate to a bona fide organisation that is registered with the Charity Commission, rather than through a random street collection.

Agree
The Disasters Emergency Commitee is a good site to see how you can help, what's being done and what has already been done. The charities involved are listed on that site .

Thanks all.

I think they are great suggestions and am happy to donate money as well. I just really wanted to do something direct as well. I'll have a think.
Just hate the feeling of being passive and not able to stand up and do something.

R.

If you want to do something direct, what about getting in touch with any refugee agencies locally and offering the clothes there or maybe speaking English with newcomers. I know a couple of people who did that and really enjoyed it.