OIPA Supporting Animal Welfare in Syria. Recently, a much-needed shipment of cat food, amounting to 60 kg, arrived at the hands of Havin, a dedicated volunteer and activist based in Rojava. Havin has spent years selflessly caring for neglected stray animals in her community, many of which suffer from the dire circumstances caused by Syria’s ongoing devastation. She has become a pillar of hope for these vulnerable creatures, often working tirelessly with limited resources to ensure their survival.
A Heart-Wrenching Decision: Sharing with Fellow Volunteers in Latakia
In the midst of this relentless struggle, Havin faced a heart-wrenching decision. Upon receiving the delivery of cat food, she learned of an equally dire situation in Latakia, where another volunteer was desperately trying to care for cats in a shelter that had been without food for days. Despite the limited supply, Havin chose to share half of the shipment with the volunteers in Latakia, ensuring that the animals there would no longer go hungry.
The Challenges of Delivering Aid: A Region in Crisis
Bringing aid to these areas is incredibly challenging, if not nearly impossible, especially with the situation in Aleppo becoming more critical by the day. The region remains in turmoil, with roads and access points becoming increasingly unsafe for relief efforts. Yet, despite the overwhelming difficulties and the risks involved, the animals in these communities continue to depend on the selfless acts of volunteers like Havin and others, who face danger daily in their mission to save lives.
Humanitarian Effort for Animals in Aleppo and Damascus
A volunteer of Syrian origin, with whom we had also collaborated during the recent earthquake, arrived in Syria to be close to his family. Together with a couple of local volunteers, he made himself available to distribute bags of dry food (480 kg) that we had purchased to groups of needy stray animals in some accessible areas of Aleppo and Damascus, as well as to a cat shelter.
They arranged to feed around 400 cats and 80 dogs (most of them left behind/dumped by previous owners) who left the city running away from the war.
The Need for Support: A Call to Action
The compassion and bravery displayed by these volunteers are nothing short of inspiring, but they cannot continue this work without our help. The need for support—whether through food, supplies, or financial assistance—has never been greater. Animals and volunteers in these conflict zones are counting on us now more than ever to stand with them in their fight for survival and dignity.
You can help us make the difference
