Public Talk on Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

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Monday, November 4th, 2013
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

The humanitarian catastrophe in Syria is the worst crisis since the Vietnam War according to the United Nations. More than two million Syrian refugees have fled their country and another four million are internally displaced. Every day another 5,000-6,000 Syrians, mostly women and children, flee their country leaving behind everything.

These refugees are in dire need of virtually everything, including basic medical aid and the vulnerable die from lack of simple pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics and electrolytes.

Vancouver Island physician Dr. Saren Azer will give a free public lecture on Monday, November 4th at the University of Victoria discussing the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the huge impact providing medical supplies and assistance has in saving lives. He has volunteered in a Syrian refugee camp and has helped send $650,000 of medical supplies to that camp.

The International Society for Peace and Human Rights (ISPHR), the non-profit organization Dr. Azer founded in 1999, launched the campaign �Medical Hope for Syria� this summer to buy medical supplies for Syrian refugees. Last month they sent 50 Physician Travel Packs, suitcase-sized boxes that can treat up to 600 children and adults, to the Domiz refugee camp in Northern Iraq. Designed by Canadian doctors, these packs contain the primary care medical products most requested by humanitarian crisis workers, including antibiotics, analgesics, oral rehydration, antihypertensives, antifungals, antimalarials, and medical supplies.

ISPHR has chapters in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Comox and Victoria and has been providing medical aid to refugee camps in the Middle East since 2007. Since 2012 they have focused on the crisis in Syria. The Physician Travel Packs are prepared by the registered charity, Health Partners International of Canada. Each pack costs $575 and contains nearly $6,000 of medicine and supplies.

Admission is by donation with all proceeds going to provide medical supplies to Syrian refugee camps. Space is limited and will be on a first come basis.