Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, millions of Syrian families have been displaced from their homes. More than 5.7 million refugees have flooded into neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, often arriving weak and hungry, with nothing more than the clothes on their back.
We continue to provide support to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon. These refugees live in unsanitary and primitavie conditions in small, unregulated camps across the country. Working with out onsite partner, Concern Worldwide, we provided sustainable, sanitary improvements to improve the health of refugees in six of these camps in the Akkar region of Lebanon.
We also supported vulnerable refugees in Turkey, the country where the majority of Syrian refugees have settleed. We provided more than 4,000 families with winter supplies, including tarps, thermal blankets, mattresses, waterproof mats, and solar lamps, to help them survive the winter ahead. We also provided funding for an e-voucher program for Syrian refugees in Turkey. Ninety percent of Syrian refugees in Turkey live in local communities in rural and urban areas, with many living in abject poverty. These populations are increasingly vulnerable because they are less likely to become self-sufficient. The e-voucher program allows refugees to buy basic items including food, hygiene and household items, shoes, clothes and fuel from local stores. This program helps Syrian refugees living in Turkey integrate into Turkish society and live with dignity.