The Forgotten Millions: Giving basics to those without

Syrian refugees on a bus to the Hungarian border, near Kanjiza, Serbia. Photo / Jo Currie

We need you to help the Forgotten Millions one more time. The Herald and World Vision have relaunched a major campaign to raise funds and help the millions of children left homeless by war in Syria. With your help we can make a difference to the children and their families in desperate need throughout this region

With help from your generous donations, World Vision has been delivering emergency aid to refugees in Kanjiza, a temporary camp on the border of Serbia and Hungary. We have delivered packs of food and water, targeting mothers and children, who are the most vulnerable. We have also provided essential hygiene items such as nappies, baby cream and soap, wet wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste and disinfectant. And we have given toys to children who have nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Kanjiza camp teems with people. Not a minute passes without someone walking through its open gates. Men, women and children of all ages, carrying all of their possessions in small bags, look for places to rest. Many have been travelling for months.

Blue and green tents cover most of the camp's area and while they might provide some shelter from the rain and increasingly cold nights, they do little more. Inside, there are no mattresses and the tents have no floor. People sleep on the ground. Those who don't have tents brave the weather without shelter. Despite these conditions, the camp is nearly full, and is now receiving more than 3000 refugees every day.

Those arriving in Kanjiza are exhausted and traumatised and need food, water and medical aid. Fuad, 48, left Syria six months ago. After five months in Turkey, he started his journey towards Germany with his wife and daughter. Two of his sons died in Syria and Fuad lost one of his legs. "I am very tired," he says, sitting on the bench in front of a large tent, his walking stick next to him. He says the most difficult part of his journey was the long walk across Greece. "We walked too long," he says. But he plans to walk again, after he reaches the Hungarian border.

In the coming weeks, through your support, World Vision will expand its work to ensure the protection of children from trafficking and other risks they face, and also help refugees survive the winter with shelter, blankets and warm clothes.

How can I make a donation?

You can make online donations, phone donations and offline donations.

Phone donations can be made on 0800 90 5000.

Offline donations can be made by printing off the form below and filling it out (app users tap here). Or look in the print edition of the Herald.