The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide,  has joined hands with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide cash grants worth US $150,000 (AED 550,000) for refugee women and vulnerable families in Egypt. 

The 12-month unconditional cash assistance programme targets 100 households accounting for 400 individuals, providing them with financial aid that enables them to pay for rent, food, clothing, healthcare and education. The plan has been formulated to help provide for the more than 100,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt, many of whom are vulnerable women and children forced to live in extremely difficult circumstances. The UNHCR is distributing the donated funds to the designated in-need recipients in collaboration with local partners in Egypt.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of ‘Salam Ya Seghar,’ a TBHF initiative to improve the welfare of refugee children, said; “The implementation of the cash grants programme comes in line with the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, for the need to redouble efforts and enhance collaborative work by the UNHCR, governments and civil society to help and support refugees in host countries.”
 
She added; “The financial aid will enable refugees to pay for their accommodation costs, with the need to keep a roof over their heads a priority. It will also help cover their expenses for essential living items, such as food, fuel and clothing. The ability to meet education charges will help refugee children stay in school, with the overall effect of the programme being one of restoring the dignity and improving the psychosocial wellbeing of the recipients.”

“The outbreak of war in Syria since 2011 has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of refugees being scattered across different parts of the world, most of who are now residing in Syria’s neighbouring countries. This has left many women and children without a breadwinner or a male relative to care for them, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse which only adds to the ordeal they have already endured. Through this donation to the UNHCR, we are striving to help these families with unconditional cash grants in order to ease their suffering,” Al Hammadi stated.

Al Hammadi noted that Egypt was bearing a huge burden with the mounting number of Syrian refugees seeking safe shelter there after fleeing the crisis in their home country. “The Egyptian authorities have been doing their utmost to help Syrian refugees, but the situation is becoming increasingly worse for many displaced families. We must all do what we can to help these vulnerable people who are living in terrible conditions through no fault of their own,” she said.

In appreciation of this donation, Head of UNHCR Abu Dhabi, Toby Harward, said, “This kind contribution from TBHF is a demonstrated evidence of the foundation’s commitment to continue supporting Syrian refugees. UNHCR is deeply grateful for this generous contribution which will allow most vulnerable refugee families in Egypt to secure basic life necessities.”

Since its inception, TBHF has succeeded in meeting the needs of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. It has provided life-saving medical services to over 365,000 Syrian displaced persons and has provided more than 400,000 others with food and financial aid. The organisation has provided warm shelters, blankets and clothing to children and their families in Syria and its neighbouring countries of Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon so that they are able to cope with the cold winter months. In February 2016, the foundation donated US$ 350,000 towards two projects run by the UNHCR to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Iraq survive tough winter conditions.

TBHF has contributed through its humanitarian assistance to changing the lives of thousands of refugees worldwide due to its nature and scope of work. The foundation has reached out to Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries and Rohingya Muslims in Indonesia, as well as Palestinian refugees in sisterly Arab countries. It has worked ceaselessly to enable refugees to live a humanitarian and dignified life by providing a package of integrated services and aid that includes healthcare and education. It also provides financial aid to enable displaced people to meet their urgent needs and cover their essential costs of living, such as rent, food, fuel and clothing.

In June 2015, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, launched TBHF to coincide with World Refugee Day. It followed the decision issued by Her Highness to transform what was then The Big Heart Campaign into a global humanitarian foundation. The move was aimed at redoubling efforts to help refugees and people in need worldwide, with the new foundation adding significantly to the UAE's rich portfolio and long record of humanitarian initiatives.