winter cash assistance


“WE COULDN’T SLEEP


FROM THE HAPPINESS” Winter cash assistance brings life-saving gift of warmth to Syrian family By Lauren La Rose


For Abu and Um Waleed, the gift of winter cash assistance has brought warmth into their home—in more ways than one.


“Immense happiness. It’s an unbelievable feeling. It really helped us a lot. We couldn’t sleep from the happiness,” said Um, 33, seated with her husband, Abu, 35, with their three daughters—Jodi,


12, Maha, 8


and Jana, 5, nestled between them in their apartment in Zarqa, Jordan.


“It helped us pay a huge part of the accumulated debt on our rent. We also got gas heaters and winter essentials. So, it’s happiness. We were also able to make the kids happy and buy them some of the things they needed.”


Winter cash assistance distributed by UNHCR to refugees—particularly those


living in urban centres—


provides them with the funds needed to buy essential items like fuel to heat their homes during the coldest months of the year.


The financial support offers a much needed boost to a family that was forced to leave everything as conflict raged in their homeland.


Wearing only the clothes on their 10 / UNHCR CANADA


Since arriving in Jordan in November of 2013, the Waleeds have shuffled through


three different homes,


seeking to carve out a new life within the country—one fraught with incredible struggles.


Abu works in short-term construction jobs. But as the temperatures decline, so too do the jobs he so desperately needs to make ends meet for his family.


“During winter there is very little construction


work. Thank God


that [the cash assistance] came and balanced my life a little bit by covering some of our debt.”


The


Waleeds are not alone, as many refugees who can’t find work go into debt simply to pay the rent and other bills.


There are, of course, other winter- specific needs like warm clothes


© UNHCR/David Azia


backs, the Waleeds left under the cover of darkness as airstrikes roared overhead, recalled Abu.


“If there was a safe place in Syria we would stay in Syria. But we just left. We had to leave for the safety of our kids,” said Abu of his homeland, which is entering its eighth year mired in deadly civil war.


for their daughters and mattresses, which double as both a cozy cushion and a warm barrier from the cold floors.


While the winter cash assistance has helped alleviate some of the financial burden, the family is on the waiting list to receive funds on a more regular basis.


Even the mere prospect of a steadier stream of cash assistance brings hope to the couple.


“It literally means everything. It’s going to take a big load off of my shoulders, which is rent,” said Abu.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28