In early summer 2024, Orienthelfer e.V. sent four rescue vehicles on their way to Syria to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the northwest of the country. The vehicles – three used Mercedes Benz Sprinters and a Volkswagen T5, all with all-wheel drive – reached their destination at the beginning of June and were received by our long-standing implementing partner Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HiHFAD).
The vehicles are being used in a region particularly affected by the war and the earthquake in February 2023. Millions of people have been living as internally displaced persons in informal tent camps for years, and the infrastructure has largely collapsed. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are massively overloaded or no longer exist at all.
90% of the population now rely on humanitarian aid, and emergency patients often have to be transported for miles through difficult terrain to reach a medical facility. This is where the rescue vehicles from Germany come into play. Thanks to their robust construction and all-wheel drive, the four rescue vehicles are perfectly suited for the rough terrain in northwestern Syria. In emergencies, this mobility saves valuable minutes, which can be a matter of life and death. The rescue vehicles were bought used in Germany with the help of donations and are now essential for the survival of many Syrians. Rescue doesn’t just mean support in an acute emergency – it also means giving people a chance at a future.
