Rafa, 11, and her siblings. Young refugees whose family fld violence in Syria and are now strugging to prepare for winter in Jordan. © CARE

How to keep warm this winter? Right now, this is an urgent concern for thousands of Syrian refugees. Jordan can get very cold in winter, even as low as zero degrees centigrade. Without essential clothing, adequate shelter and heating, they will struggle to survive. CARE is helping 4000 families, people like those quoted here, prepare for winter in Jordan.

“The roof leaks, so when it rains – or snows - water will come in. We have no blankets, only thin mattresses, no winter clothes and no heater.” Rana, mother, 27 years old.

Fleeing unspeakable violence

Mohammed fled Syria with his young family. © CAREThose who have fled Syria have survived and witnessed unspeakable violence. Fleeing immediate danger, many refugees left with little more than the clothes on their backs. Rent is high, employment left behind.

"We were very afraid when we left our home. We had to leave in a hurry and we couldn’t take anything with us. No clothes, no toys, not the doll that I had always had with me." Rafa, 11 years old.

People also urgently need psychosocial support. Having worked with Iraqi refugees in Jordan since 2003, CARE has seen the effectiveness of building community support networks in order to break the isolation of refugees and give them a sense of security.

“People were killed in the street outside our house. If we went out, we were shot at. We had to leave.”Mohammed, father of 6.

Rafa's family had to leave their home Syria so quickly that they were unable to take any clothes or toys. © CARE“A lot of bullets were hitting our house and some entered the rooms. I was very afraid that one would hit me.”Rafa, 11 years old.

Taking care of relatives

Abdul, a father of two, also has an elderly father to take care of. Fleeing the violence was very difficult, especially as his eldest daughter was seven months pregnant, but as Abdul says,

"They raped women and killed them. I have two daughters. We couldn’t stay.”

Without help from CARE, Abdul says, they would not be able to afford an apartment in Jordan at all, but things are still hard.

“We have no heater, too few blankets and no warm clothes. We’re very worried. It’s going to get very cold, and it's so damp in this house.“

Help families in need. Please give now to CARE's Syria Crisis Appeal.