UNICEF Calls for Donations to Support 1.2m Syrian Refugee Children this Winter

As every winter, UNICEF Lëtzebuerg has launched its "Wanteraktioun", an initiative aimed at providing over a million Syrian refugee children with warm clothing in the colder months.

As the Syrian conflict enters its tenth year, children and their families continue to suffer in the country itself and abroad, where they have found refuge. Each year has reinforced the cycle of poverty that affects the majority of refugee families, leaving them unable to cope with the cold of winter, without resources, warm clothes or isolated shelters. This year is all the more exceptional and complicated, with the arrival of COVID-19, which has highlighted and worsened the failings of the health systems and the care of people in need, further increasing inequalities.

In this unique context, UNICEF will reiterate its support for Syrian refugee children, providing them with simple but effective support to cope with winter, by providing warm clothing and equipment. The goal this year is to equip 1.2 million children with warm boots and blankets. In order to respect the NGO's commitment, which is to protect all children, everywhere in the world, UNICEF teams will take into account the specificity of this crisis.

UNICEF has committed to providing:

- Warm winter clothes including coats, trousers, gloves, hats, scarves and snow boots
- Warm blankets to protect children from the cold in their shelters or tents
- Financial assistance allowing families to obtain firewood and heating oil
- Heating in schools and childcare centres
- Health personnel to treat children who suffer from the cold and related illnesses

The Luxembourg public can support this initiative by making a donation via bank transfer to the UNICEF Luxembourg bank account IBAN LU71 1111 2144 2050 0000 (reference: "Wanter") or online at www.unicef.lu/wanter.

Cactus customers can make a donation by using a barcode card available from all cashiers in Cactus stores. Until 6 December 2020, customers can add €5 or €12 (or multiples) to their purchases as a donation. They can also give away 500 (€5) or 1,200 (€12) points using their Cactus Customer Card in store.