Vancouver man renews call for help as situation in Aleppo, Syria gets dire

When describing the situation unfolding in Aleppo, a Syrian-Canadian man living in Vancouver says one word comes to mind: catastrophic.

Riam El-Safadi is one of a handful of volunteers scrambling to collect desperately-needed medical supplies for the sick and wounded trapped in the besieged city. He’s a member of ‘Not Just Tourists’, a Canadian organization that collects surplus medical supplies for transport to developing or war-torn countries.

El-Safadi has been volunteering with them for five years, connecting with a network of volunteer doctors within Syria who have been committed to helping injured civilians.

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These days, El-Safadi said the need for life-saving medical supplies is dire.

“When I ask them what on the list they don’t need and they say we are in dire need of most of it,” El-Safadi said.

“It’s catastrophe by all nature. Most of the hospitals I visited, they told me they are destroyed. Out of service. Most of the emergency operation rooms are out of service,” he said.

While he hasn’t been to Aleppo since 2014, El-Safadi says he’s spent years developing relationships with NGOs, including the Syrian-American Medical Society and England Syrian Relief, among others–who make use of the supplies he collects.

Over the last five years, nine containers have been sent from B.C. to Syria, filled with everything from bandages, to wheelchairs to hospital beds. El-Safadi says they also accept any unexpired medication.

The situation in Aleppo has him renewing a call for help.

“I want to make sure that we can help them stand on their feet, get back their dignity and at least walk again,” said El-Safadi.

If you’re able to make a donation of medical supplies or funds, please contact El-Safadi at vancouveraid@gmail.com.