FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is thrilled to announce the largest delivery so far of humanitarian aid to the Rukban internally displaced persons (IDP) camp as part of “Operation Syrian Oasis,” following multiple deliveries starting in June 2023. The assistance delivered over the past six months includes educational materials, food items, agricultural support, as well as maternal and infant health care provisions.
On June 20, 2023, after years of effort, SETF launched ‘Operation Syrian Oasis,’ aimed at delivering aid to the besieged Rukban IDP Camp in southern Syria within a 55-km deconfliction zone surrounding US Al Tanf Garrison (ATG). Operation Syrian Oasis has been made possible through the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program in coordination with the US Department of State, Central Command (CENTCOM), Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), and USAID, which allows for the delivery of humanitarian aid on a space-available basis on ongoing operations.
On February 17th, SETF delivered the following items:
- Seven different school books per school-aged child in the camp for a total of 16,668 books.
- 1,330 additional food baskets to ensure each family in the camp has food for a month
- 11 types of fruit and vegetable seeds for each family in the camp.
- 700 kilograms of fertilizer to support the three farms SETF helped initiate.
Former US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues and SETF Board of Directors member Amb. Stephen Rapp said, “Syrian Oasis is a humanitarian operation that has been an important lifeline for thousands of innocent civilians, and it is important that everyone continues to support this humanitarian operation that helps ensure force protection for US forces and counters radicalization.”
The 8,000 civilians living in Rukban, mostly women and children, face critical living conditions resulting from an agonizing, long-lasting siege by the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran. SETF is grateful to OIR, Task Force Armadillo based at ATG, and the US-partner force the Syria Free Army (SFA) for supporting SETF’s efforts to ensure sustained access of humanitarian aid and doctors to the besieged civilians. Operation Syrian Oasis is key to ensure there is no forced return of civilians to Assad regime areas and gives hope to thousands of civilians that have had no access to education, medical care, or humanitarian aid for many years.
For any inquiries, please contact:
Maria Cure
[email protected]
www.setf.ngo