When seeing news such as the situation in Aleppo, it is easier to feel helpless in the face of such brutality. A horrific conclusion to a failure on behalf of the world’s nations to resolve the Civil War in Syria, the tragedies that unfold day after day seem unstoppable. Yet there are many small things you can do in your own country to help those who are in such dire need, including giving to charity, staying informed and lobbying your government.
Exert Pressure On Your Local MP
Is your government doing its fair share to take in refugees? Are they contributing a substantial portion of their GDP towards foreign aid? If not, you can lobby your local councillors to debate these issues in government. It takes five minutes to call them up and tell them what you think. In the meantime, sign an online petition. It may seem like armchair activism, but if thousands of people do it, it sends a strong message to those in charge to direct their efforts towards abandoning politics and seeing the situation in Aleppo as a humanitarian disaster.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BORc7iCAvyN/?tagged=aleppo
Charity Gifts
Give someone a charity gift or donate to organisations in their name by using Present Aid. Or conversely, buy a loved one the #cookforsyria cookbook, featuring recipes from famous chefs such as Yotam Ottolenghi and Jamie Oliver. All the profits will go to Unicef.
Go To Solidarity Marches
Let the Syrian people know you care about them and join a solidarity march. The aim is simple; demand your government to help establish a no-fly zone over the area. This will stop the illegal bombing. Also, let them know that you want aid drops sent to the area and a peaceful end to the conflict.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNwE-xbgsQU/?taken-by=civilmarchforaleppo
Become Educated
Follow those independent and fearless journalists who risk their lives in order to report from the ground in Aleppo. Read extensively, so your opinion is not based only on what one or two major publications say, but a multitude of different opinions. Whilst it may seem that your social news feed is an echo chamber, it remains important to share well-researched, fact-checked articles from the ground that give credence to the horrors that are occurring. If you change just one person’s mind, you are making a difference.
Volunteer
If you live in a city with a strong refugee presence, such as Berlin or Oslo, try and volunteer at a local centre. If you live in the UK, petition your local constituency to accept more refugees. By helping refugees at home you’re sending a message that you care, and that will surely resonate on a global level.
Don’t Give Up On Aleppo
Ultimately, don’t give up. Even if the world we live in seems like it is headed towards despair, it is up to each and every one of us to do our part in order to make a difference. Working alone might not seem like much, but working together we are strong. Hope is stronger than despair.