Following the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey in February 2023, the Next Century Foundation ran a Syria Earthquake Victims Appeal to raise funds for those in the worst affected areas, among which is Jableh (pictured above). After consulting with doctors in Latakia, Jaafar El-Ahmar, the Head of NCF UK, used these funds to buy medicine and travel to Syria. Jaafar delivered the third and final consignment of medical supplies to Tishreen University Hospital last week. 

Below is a brief account of the conditions in Jableh, one of the worst-hit towns in Syria, from Jaafar: 

We notice life has returned almost to normal in Jableh, but what seems normal; people in the streets and busy markets etc, hides the ongoing sufferings due to lack of funds, and shortages of services especially energy (electricity, oil, and gas) which are the main catalysts to the economy and daily life.

Jaffar is pictured below, below right, with some of the supplies delivered in the latest consignment to Syria:

Donors to the Next Century Foundation have been able to meet some of the needs of earthquake-hit Syria. Some babies have however been left orphans (one pictured below) and there is an acute need for second-hand incubators and other second-hand equipment. This need we have been unable to meet.