If everything in life has a purpose then it appears the complete meltdown of humanity in Aleppo has acted as a catalyst to ignite a level of consciousness about this humanitarian crisis that had yet to be achieved. Suddenly people in my life who have never responded to a single post about the humanitarian work I’ve done for refugees in 2016 are now asking how they can help the people of Aleppo. That slight ray of sunshine radiating through what has to be some of the darkest days in our lives represents hope. Hope that people will take action. Hope that we will come together as a single race — the human race — and do what’s right. Hope that good will defeat evil. Hope that together we will rise and lift those who are in desperate need of our help.
Here are ten things you can do to help the people of Aleppo:
#1. Donate to Relief Efforts
The absolute quickest way to have an immediate impact and help the innocent souls of Aleppo is to donate to humanitarian orgs who are on the ground there. Those orgs include United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), White Helmets, Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Save the Children, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Doctors Without Borders. It’s important to know Bashar al-Assad, the despicable President of Syria, is slaughtering humanitarians as part of the horror he is unleashing on Aleppo, so these orgs need your help now more than ever. Every humanitarian on the ground in Aleppo is risking his or her own life to save the lives of others.
#2. Reach out to your Senators and Representatives
You can do a search here to find out who they are. Reach out to them via phone, email, Twitter, Facebook and any other medium that gets you on their radar. Demand that they take action and support an immediate plan to help the people of Aleppo and the refugees displaced by this violence.
#3. Join A Demonstration/Protest
Find a demonstration/protest in your area that supports Aleppo. Show up. Be there. Take a stand. Make a difference. The media will likely cover the event. Your presence and the presence of others will help raise awareness for this crisis.
#4. Share Aleppo Stories on Social Media
Help give this crisis a voice by sharing media stories and other social media posts across your social channels. Shine a light on the horrors of what’s going on in Aleppo. It’s frightening how many people still don’t have a clue as to what’s happening and your help is needed to raise their consciousness.
#5. Advocate for Refugees
There are 21.3 million refugees in the world — over half of whom are children. All have fled their country because of war, terrorism, violence and/or fear of persecution. Contrary to the ignorant rhetoric of many of our politicians, these people are not terrorists looking to behead you. They are people just like you and me. None of them wanted to leave their homeland. Every Syrian refugee I spoke to in any refugee camp speaks of their love of their country. They are heartbroken they had to leave. They dream of going home someday. The refugees in refugee camps are the lucky ones. They got out of places like Aleppo. They had the money to pay the smugglers to help them get out. Many of the innocent people stuck in Aleppo now didn’t have a choice to leave. They simply didn’t have the money to save themselves and their families.
#6. Volunteer Your Time
Do you speak Arabic? Are you a medical professional? Are you simply a kindhearted human being? Consider volunteering your time with humanitarian orgs here in America or throughout the world that support Aleppo and the refugees. A simple Google search will help you find orgs or reach out to any of the orgs listed in #1 above. The humanitarian org I do my refugee volunteer work with is I AM YOU. Their volunteers represent the best of humanity and the work they do makes a huge difference in the lives of refugees. I promise it will be the best food for your soul you have ever experienced.
#7. Have Zero Tolerance for Ignorance and Hate
If you witness someone speaking about the people of Syria or refugees in a negative way, call them out. Educate them with facts. Here’s a good one: Since 9/11, the United States has let in 1.5 million Middle Eastern refugees and zero have committed an act of terrorism. If the person spewing hate towards Syrians or any refugee calls themselves a Christian, ask them what Jesus would do. We have all witnessed the power of ignorance and fake news in America. We all have a responsibility to speak up when we hear it or see it. Do not back down. Be a warrior. Be an advocate. Anything short of that will result in more lost lives because the ignorance will be allowed to live and in that there will be more death.
#8. Use Your Vote
Vote for politicians who support intervention when it comes to humanitarian crises like Aleppo around the world. Remember we are one.
#9. Pray
People always find it interesting that as an agnostic I often ask people to pray. I believe in the power of prayer. I have witnessed a miracle that I attribute to prayer. Christian, Muslim, whatever your faith, please say a prayer for the people of Aleppo.
#10. Share This Post
If you believe this has been helpful to you then it will likely be helpful to someone else looking to help the people of Aleppo, so please consider sharing across your social channels.
