KHOM Strengthens Ramadan Mission to Support Refugees in Syria and Lebanon
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian non-governmental organisation Karisma Humanitarian Outreach Mission (KHOM) is intensifying its winter humanitarian mission to Syria and Lebanon during Ramadan to ease the hardships faced by refugees living in extreme conditions.
KHOM mission director and chairman Nik Marina Hussin said that although fighting has subsided in some parts of Syria, the impact of war continues to affect millions.
Many returning families are forced to live among ruins, with limited access to clean water and unstable electricity supply.
“For many refugees, the war may have ended, but their struggle has only just begun. They are rebuilding their lives from nothing,” he said.
The upcoming mission will focus on distributing food packages, winter supplies, installing water tanks in refugee settlements, and providing learning materials for children.
Nik Marina said this year’s Ramadan aid packages are larger, including biryani meals and a chicken for each refugee family.
“We have met children who have not had proper meals for years. Some had not eaten chicken for nearly four years,” he added.
He noted that since the conflict erupted in 2011, nearly 13 million Syrians have become refugees, while more than seven million were internally displaced.
As a result, some communities still walk up to 16 kilometres to collect a single container of clean water.
On education, he said thousands of children have missed out on formal schooling for over a decade, creating serious long-term challenges.
“Post-war recovery is not only about food and shelter, but also about education and human development,” he said.
In addition to Syria, KHOM will also assist Palestinian refugees in the Shabra and Shatila camps in Beirut.
He described the initiative as a dual-focused mission aimed at supporting both Syrian and Palestinian communities.
Nik Marina urged Malaysians to continue contributing through KHOM’s official channels to ensure sufficient aid reaches all beneficiaries.
Since 2017, KHOM has carried out humanitarian missions in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine as part of its long-term commitment to helping conflict-affected populations.
-wilayah.com.my
