PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/31/2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is thrilled to announce a seventh delivery to the Rukban internally displaced persons (IDP) camp as part of “Operation Syrian Oasis,” following a successful first delivery on June 20th, 2023.
The seventh delivery is among the largest to be distributed to camp residents and it includes prenatal vitamins, baby milk, rice, sugar, lentils, oil, chickpeas and tuna cans. SETF continues to prepare additional deliveries of baby milk, prenatal vitamins, school books, and food items, already scheduled to be delivered within the next month on a space-available basis on U.S. military aircraft already traveling to al-Tanf Garrison as part of ongoing operations.
The multiple successful deliveries over the course of four months confirm SETF’s continuous commitment to providing relief for the much-deserving camp residents. It also demonstrates the unprecedented nature and importance of this operation as the first ever recurrent influx of significant amounts of aid to those affected by an agonizing eight-year-long siege imposed by the Assad regime, Russia and Iran.
SETF’s support to Rukban continues to address their most dire needs as they surge. SETF is currently conducting an assessment of camp needs to survive the extreme temperatures during the winter months and expects to provide heaters, blankets, rain sheets to the camp among other items that have been urgent for years in order to save thousands of lives during the winter. A camp resident expressed their gratitude: “Thank you for remembering us. Thank you for keeping your commitments to break the siege and alleviate some of our suffering.”
The milestone accomplishment would not be possible without the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of SETF’s team and generous donors who continuously support its humanitarian operations, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense, who has extended its support through Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), to SETF’s led and funded effort by assisting with the transportation of aid to Rukban IDP Camp on a space-available basis through the Denton Program on U.S. military aircraft.
SETF continues to seek partners and support to continue these critical deliveries of aid to the residents of Rukban. Donations can be made on the SETF website, www.setf.ngo.