Samaira Iqbal and Shabnam Naz aiming to raise £6,000 to deliver aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Samaira Iqbal (right) and Shabnam Naz (left) are aiming to raise £6,000 to deliver aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey.

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Samaira Iqbal and Shabnam Naz are aiming to raise £6,000 towards delivering aid to Syrian refugees in Reyhanli.

Reyhanli, a small Turkish town, near the Syrian border, is home to thousands of Syrian refugees, many of whom live in appalling conditions, such as abandoned incomplete houses, shelters and tents.

Having previously delivered aid there in February this year, Samaira, 33, and Shabnam, 34, will return to carry out similar humanitarian duties during the first week of October. The trip is facilitated by SKT Welfare, who operate on a 100% donation policy.

Samaira, a psychological wellbeing practitioner, said: “After witnessing first-hand, the monumental difference everyone’s donations made on our last trip, we have decided to return to Reyhanli in October, with a joint fundraising target of £6,000 which will be used to purchase essential food items to feed the families most in need.

“During our time in Reyhanli, we were shocked at the conditions some people live in. We saw the difference our presence made to people and they knew they hadn't been forgotten and that we care. More importantly, the people only have access to food via charities, which is why it's vital to raise the funds and replenish the food to ensure they don't go hungry.

"We are passionate about aid work and want to make a difference, and if we can bring a smile to even one person’s face, then it's all worth it.

“It was a very eye-opening, life-changing experience.”

Once there, the volunteers, both from Rochdale, will help pack over 1,000 food aid boxes and deliver them to refugees in tent camps, orphanages, family centres, villages and rehabilitation centres for those physically injured by war.

Shabnam added: “Since we have returned, we cannot stop thinking about the most beautiful kind-hearted people we met there, every single person we encountered touched our hearts to the very core. The children, the mothers, the families, were all so full of love and warmth. We will never forget their smiles, cuddles and laughter, despite having lost their homes and loved ones. The patience, compassion, love and warmth radiated by the beautiful Syrian people completely captured our hearts and we have fully left them behind in Reyhanli.”

A £25 parcel will feed a family of five for up to ten days and contains: rice, bulgur wheat, green and red lentils, vermicelli, spaghetti, kidney beans, chickpeas, tea, sunflower and olive oils, sugar, and semolina.

SKT Welfare is a UK-registered charity, founded in 2008, dedicated to the delivery of humanitarian aid and solutions regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or belief. Its aim is to help relieve the suffering of the world’s poorest communities.

In 2015, the charity built the seven-storey Springs of Hope’ Family Centre in Reyhanli for widows, orphans and single-parent families. With capacity for up to 68 mothers or carers, and 194 children, SKT Welfare provide food, clothing and education to all the families and children, and help create employment opportunities within the centre.

Training is provided for all the mothers, designed to empower them to obtain a livelihood, thereby reducing dependencies and affording them the dignity of becoming self-sufficient.

Since its inception, the charity has accomplished several projects in the UK, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Somalia and more recently, Palestine. However, since 2011 and the onset of the crisis in Syria, SKT Welfare has re-oriented most of its efforts addressing the humanitarian fallout from this conflict, and has become instrumental in delivering aid to Syrians in need, both inside Syria and within refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

The charity has evolved and adapted itself successfully to what is an extremely difficult conflict zone to function within, operationally and logistically.

To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shabnam-samaira