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Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Syrians Abroad Step in to Support Those in Need
Back Home

Sirwan Kajjo

   WASHINGTON - For Kawa Hisso what began as a social media challenge to
   raise awareness among his friends about the spread of coronavirus in
   his native Syria has now become a full-fledged campaign to support
   those in need in the war-torn country.

   Hisso, 35, is a well-known Syrian soccer player who currently lives in
   the Netherlands. His campaign to send financial donations to poor
   families in Syria has attracted hundreds of donors among Syrians living
   abroad.

   "The idea came to me last week as I was thinking about ways to help
   those in Syria who are staying home now because of the coronavirus,"
   Hisso said.

   "Most people in Syria make their wage on a daily basis. So if you don't
   go to work one day, you won't be able to bring food to your family," he
   told VOA.

   As countries around the world grapple with the coronavirus pandemic,
   the autonomous administration in northeast Syria has taken certain
   measures to prevent the virus from spreading, including a lockdown
   throughout the region. As a result, thousands of workers have been
   forced to stay home.

   "Our campaign is encouraging every Syrian living abroad to sponsor one
   family back home for a month," Hisso said, noting that "this will save
   thousands of families from starvation."

   He said many of his fellow Syrian sportsmen, artists and other public
   figures have joined him in his effort to collect donations from around
   the world.

   Time for solidarity

   The initiative has also attracted many wealthy Syrians residing outside
   their country.

   "I pledge to support 15 families in Syria for the duration of this
   crisis," Arif Ramadan, a Syrian Kurdish businessman who owns a chain of
   hotels and restaurants in Erbil, Iraq, said in a video posted on
   Facebook.

   "I urge other businessmen to contribute to this beautiful campaign as
   we are in this crisis together and we will get out of it together," he
   said.

   Another Syrian businessman, who requested to remain anonymous, said the
   coronavirus crisis offers an opportunity to reflect on "our real
   values."

   "By donating to our people back home, we are showing them that they are
   not left alone and that the world is still fine," the businessman, who
   now lives in Turkey, told VOA.

   On the receiving end, people have expressed their gratitude for this
   "gesture of goodwill."

   "The donation came just in time," said a construction worker who has
   been staying home since March 23 as his hometown of Qamishli in
   northeast Syria has been under lockdown because of the coronavirus.

   "As my children and I were running out of food, some people contacted
   us and offered to give us food baskets that will last for a month," he
   told VOA, adding that "the food staple will literally save his family
   from hunger."

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