We have had a few questions about the MERS virus that is occurring in the Middle East. We have had some advice from our doctors who regularly go on the medical missions about how to protect yourself from contracting the disease. This information is also explained on the CDC website.

If you are planning to join one of our missions, we also recommend several vaccinations as precautions against other diseases that can be found in the crowded, less than sanitary living conditions with a lack of water, such as the refugee camps. Please see the Medical Mission registration forms for more information.

If you have any further questions about what precautions you should take before joining one of our missions, please contact us and we can put you in contact with one of our lead doctors.

2013 was a landmark year for Salaam Cultural Museum, but for a reason we wish were not true. Our organization took in more money and in – kind donations last year than at any time in our history.  Unfortunately, this record activity is due to the seemingly endless humanitarian crisis happening in Syria. While I am very proud to say our organization and supporters have stepped up to help thousands of Syrian refugees, it continues to break my heart that we even have to do this.

I am very thankful for all those who have donated time, supplies, money, and other support to help us accomplish our goals. We could not have done it without you. SCM does not seek or accept US government funding, and because of this we can fund any project that we choose. It also allows us to speak out in support of social justice issues and the humanitarian efforts for the Syrian refugees. As always it is the personal donations and support that comes from people like you that allows us to do what we do.

The dedication of our volunteers here in the US and also in Jordan believe in what we are doing, and along with your contributions, keep this organization alive and able to support the humanitarian aid for the many, many Syrian refugees that have fled their homes over the last three years.

For the 2013 fiscal year, because of your generous donations and the matching donations of organizations and companies that you work for, and all of the efforts of our volunteers, we have been able to do the following:

• Buy over $10,000 in medications in the US to take with us on our medical missions
• Buy over $5000 in medications, for each mission, in Jordan through discount pharmacies, organized by our local pharmacist
• Purchase $2000 to $3000 in baby formula in Jordan for each mission to deliver to the camps and women and children centers
• We have given out over 10,000 diapers for infants and 3500 adult diapers
• Over 5,000 cans of baby formula were purchased  and  distributed in Jordan and the region
• Over 2000 wheelchairs, walkers and crutches that were donated here in the US were shipped to Jordan and Turkey to delivered to the clinics in the region
• Over $200,000 worth of medical equipment has been donated to us and dispersed to clinics and hospitals in the region
• In 2013 we sent  14 containers to Jordan and 4 containers to Turkey
• 2 ambulances were purchased and shipped to Turkey to transport injured and sick refugees to where they could get medical treatment
• The Malki /SCM Center for Children was opened for kids with PTSD and staffed with one doctor and 4 teachers.
• 500 pairs of donated eye glasses have been handed out for near sighted and far sighted patients during our missions
• 400 pairs of shoes were donated by Keen and Nike and distributed to adults and children
• 800 pairs of hand knitted gloves and hats were handed out to children in the different clinics
• 4000 blankets were given out during the winter months
• School supplies were dispersed to the different villages, and included books, pencils, pens, chalk boards, toys, backpacks etc.
• Hospital equipment such as beds, lifts, patient tables collected in the US were shipped to Jordan for use in the clinics
• We organized a Ramadan food drive to collect the funds to purchase food and were able to feed  500 families with meat , rice, chicken, bread during Ramadan
• Over 10,000 tons of flour were purchased and distributed to community bakeries to make bread for the needy
• We coordinated medical missions in January, March, June, September, and November of 2013
• On each mission our doctors, nurses, dentists, OBGYN, ophthalmologists, mental health specialists, etc, saw from 2500 or 3000 patients during the week of each mission
• We have collaborated with other organizations that are helping the displaced Syrians, such as  NAAMA, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, IRC, Saudi Hospital, and more

Our medical missions have provided much needed support and hope to the suffering people of Syria. With your continued support we have been able to keep up our pace of work and will continue to gather supplies and funds, and coordinate medical missions as long as the need is there and we can help to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Rita Zawaideh, Board Executive

Hasan, a 17 year-old boy from Syria, has been diagnosed with a tumor in his left knee (possibly osteosarcoma or Ewing’s sarcoma).

His parents fled from Homs in fear for their safety. Hasan was seen by doctors in Jordan and was told that he is in need of, at minimum, chemotherapy and then surgery to remove the tumor.

All the hospitals have refused to treat him due to the large expense of this treatment, which his parents cannot afford since they fled their homes and have come with nothing except the clothes on their back.

The estimated cost of chemotherapy and surgery at the King Hussein Cancer Center (the only hospital qualified to perform this procedure) is at least $10,000.

Your donation can save his life.

To help, please donate through our My Charity of Choice campaign at https://mycharityofchoice.com/campaign/profile/891#.U2xJwPnRL_E

We had posted a video earlier about the children of Syria and here is it with the music of Adele.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhymBwAzN18]

I did not sleep well last night, as usual. I keep thinking of the Syrian people and everything that needs to be done to help them, and I just can’t grasp what the world community is thinking.

We need massive support from the international community and also our own communities. We need to work on projects for education, health and the water infrastructure.

We need the countries in the region and around the world to keep their doors open to Syrian Refugees. We need open door policies and global responsibility. We need support, massive support – we need countries that had made UN pledges to make those pledges. We need people like ourselves to make pledges to help the Syrian people.

Do not give up- this is not something that one group of people or country can do alone. We will not be able to stop this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in front of our eyes if people don’t join together to make it stop. Social media is bringing this into our homes.

Please do not ignore it, we need help. The Syrian people need help- they should not be forgotten.

Please give whatever you can go to any web site and give everyone has something extra even $5 will help one child. You can donate now by clicking on the button at the top right of this screen, or mail a check to our office made out to SCM.

Thank you.

If you are in the area or know anyone in the area send them to this event!

All proceeds go to the Syrian refugees. There will be two great speakers that have been on medical missions with SCM:

Rhenda Meiser, a humanitarian who was on the last mission

May Mardini, a physical therapist who was with us on previous missions and worked with the young men at the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic.

Hear their first hand experiences in dealing the the displaced Syrians in Jordan, plus many other speakers. Information about the situation in Jordan and Syria will be shared, and how you can continue to help. If you are interested in joining a medical mission with SCM, definitely go to hear  from Rhenda and May.

https://www.facebook.com/events/545904655528638/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming