As UNHCR has been present on the ground since the immediate aftermath of the crisis, we joined Solaiman when he got the chance to visit Marawi for the first time since they were forced to flee in May last year. Tears formed in his eyes as he took in the shell of his former home. The walls have crumbled, the roof was missing, and the furniture are scattered and burned. “It breaks my heart,” he says. He looks at the devastation near his home and it reminds him of the photos that he sees of Aleppo in the newspapers. There are many others, like Solaiman, who visited their old homes to see if they could go back only to find their former houses reduced to rubble.
When conflict broke out last year, the generosity of UNHCR supporters has been an absolute lifeline. Because of their donations, we were able to mobilize quickly for people who fled the crossfire by providing life-saving assistance like tarpaulins, kitchen sets, hygiene packs which they used while in displacement. The most vulnerable persons like the elderly and persons with special needs were given medical aid and more targeted assistance. We could not have done this without you.
It’s going to take a lot of time, effort, and resources before those displaced by the fighting in Marawi would be able to recover. They are in desperate need of long term durable solutions for them to rebuild their lives in safety and in dignity. Much more is needed to help displaced families get back on their feet and recover. Those affected by the fighting in Marawi, like Solaiman and his family, face a long journey ahead of them.
We at UNHCR are doing our best, but we cannot do it without your support. Please help today at donate.unhcr.ph
17 окт 2024
