Syrian-Canadians are trying to do their part to help family, friends and strangers in their former county, where one-third of the population – or roughly the population of Quebec – has been displaced by war, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
One of those organizations is non-profit group founded in December called A Heart for Syria. Started by a Montreal named Hala Maatouk, she and other volunteers are not affiliated with any religious or political ideology and are simply seeking to help those who are suffering.
For the past two years, Maatouk has sold artwork made by Syrian men and women to provide humanitarian aid to refugees of the war-torn country.
“They're displaced. Sometimes they're in refugee camps,” she said. “It's very difficult to sell there.”
Maatouk created the non-profit organization nine months ago to further the cause.
Recently, A Heart for Syria shipped more than $200,000-worth of medical supplies, educational materials, clothing and toys to a refugee camp in Turkey, but the need for humanitarian assistance is only expect to grow.
“Every day 5,000 people are crossing the border,” said Maatouk.
Faisal Alazem, spokesperson for the Syrian Canadian Council, said Syrians living in Canada have been donating generously since the beginning of the conflict.
“Unfortunately, we have reached, as a community, a point of exhaustion,” said Alazem. “Almost on a weekly basis, you have a fundraiser to help with medical aid food baskets or even education.”
Maatouk says she has spent all her savings on Syrian aid, and her family is also devoted to the cause.
“It's very important that we help Syria now. The children, of course, are the most important,” said her mother, Elza Maatouk.
Hala Maatouk – who plans to continue her work for as long as it takes – is now looking outside the Syrian community for help.
As the situation in Syria remains unstable, many could need aid for decades to come -- but every little bit counts.
“With $30, you can really save a child you can feed him for a whole month,” she said.
