Lend your skills to help Syria refugees

Officials from UK foundation in Dubai to recruit Arabic-speaking volunteers to help bridge language barrier in Greece.

A woman dries laundry in the courtyard of an abandoned school used by volunteers for hosting refugees in Athens. Aris Messinis / AFP

DUBAI // Arabic-speaking doctors, dentists, paramedics and counsellors are being urged to lend their skills to a charity that supports Syrian refugees.

Officials from the UK’s Health Point Foundation are in the emirate to recruit volunteers with medical skills to help to overcome the language barrier and communicate with patients at its camp in northern Greece.

“We are facing many problems because we have no Arabic-speaking volunteers or doctors,” said Dr Hadia Aslam, the charity’s founder and director.

“Most of the refugees cannot speak or understand English, so the medical teams face lots of challenges while treating them.

“It is not just about medical treatment, but also about counselling. Understanding the language is always crucial to understand medical and psychological issues,” said the 32-year-old.

There is an urgent need for dentists because 30 to 40 per cent of refugees suffer from dental issues, Dr Aslam said.

“Refugees can’t brush their teeth and often eat foods high in sugar, leading to dental problems and infections when they reach the camp.”

The foundation’s camp receives about 100 refugees a day. Apart from dental problems, other major health issues include helping new mothers who have developed infections, as a result of poor hygiene, that affect breastfeeding.

Dr Roba Nassef, a 25-year-old dentist, said it was crucial to be able to communicate clearly with patients.

“If the doctor and patient have language barriers then it will lead nowhere. The patient won’t be able to share their pain and the doctor won’t be able to treat them properly.”

Although Dr Nassef is unable to travel to the camp himself because of personal issues, he urged other Arabic-speaking doctors to go.

“These refugees are our moral responsibility. If we can help them and give them a level of comfort then it would be a great service to mankind.”

Dr Aslam applauded the support that refugees are receiving from the UAE Government, although she felt more could be done by individuals.

“Gulf countries are doing a lot by donating millions of dollars, but people have to come forward too. Refugees don’t just need money, but time and support too.”

She said there was an overall lack of awareness about what Syrian refugees were enduring.

“Our responsibility does not end by donating money. This is the duty of all of us to come forward and help them in their hard times.”

Counsellors and psychologists are also urgently needed to help the large numbers of refugee children suffering from trauma.

“Children are the worst victims of war and conflict. They suffer psychologically and physically. They have seen blood and tragedy around them at such a tender age. If we don’t take care of them then these tragedies will haunt them for the rest of their lives.”

Dr Mohammad S Tahir, a paediatric psychiatrist, is planning to travel to the camp to help.

“This is the time when humanity should join hands and help the suffering of these people, show solidarity and prove we love and care for each other.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Dr Aslam via email at [e-mail]