From the White Helmets to the underground schools in rebel-held areas, here are 16 organizations working in the war-torn city or with people driven from it.
Bombardment has left those civilians still stranded throughout Aleppo without access to medical facilities, food or shelter, while tens of thousands of internally displaced refugees are also in urgent need of aid.
Government forces, pro-Assad militias and armed opposition groups have all been accused of obstructing the flow of aid around Syria’s largest city. On 18 December, buses intended to convey civilians out of the city were burned by an Islamist anti-government faction, while the Assad regime has repeatedly blocked aid convoys from entering the city.
In such circumstances, large charitable organisations may find it easier to cross political lines and deliver aid. But even the Red Cross has been unable to access parts of Aleppo from April until now, and smaller grassroots organisations with closer ties to local people can be more effective at turning donations into meaningful change on the ground.
Here are 16 different ways you can try and make a difference to ordinary residents still surviving in the decimated city.
UNHCR
The United Nations’ Refugee Agency has been criticised for its response to the global refugee crisis, but its policy of giving cash directly to refugees fleeing Aleppo and other war-struck locations across the region is seen “the preferred means of assistance” by a majority of Syrian refugees. $430 million (£346 million) has been given to displaced people across the globe this year, and $355 million (£286 million) in the Middle East alone. Donate here.
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The Syrian American Medical Society
An organisation with ties to the Aleppo area, SAMS provides financial and logistical support to beleaguered medical professionals in Syria, as well as online learning resources for Syrian medicine students. Donate here
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Médecins Sans Frontières
The globally-respected medical relief organisation has seen its hospitals in Aleppo destroyed by indiscriminate bombing, but continues to send medical supplies to evacuees in Aleppo governate. Donate here.
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Hand in Hand for Syria
As the name suggests, a hands-on organisation which prides itself working directly with Syrians inside Syria, even when other aid organisations considered it too unsafe. They had a team inside Aleppo when it was over-run by Assad loyalists last week and are still sending aid into the area. Donate here.
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Life for Relief and Development
The largest Arab-American humanitarian charity, which is running an emergency appeal to get together basic supplies for families displaced from Aleppo into the harsh Syrian winter. Donate here.
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Islamic Relief
Vital hands-on work is being carried out in Aleppo by the multinational charity, distributing medical supplies, food parcels and fuel and airlifting severely wounded civilians to Turkey for treatment. Donate here.
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Humanitarian Relief Organisation
This Turkish organisation is en route to Aleppo in a convoy of 1500 aid trucks, while simultaneously bussing orphans out of the city to safety. Donate here.
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Red Cross (Red Crescent)
“We are getting ready to resume the evacuation of people from eastern Aleppo,” a Red Cross spokesperson announced yesterday, after intitial relief efforts collapsed following the failure of the ceasefire. They’re working in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, an independent organisation based in Damascus. Donate here.
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Syria Relief
A British charity with an exclusive focus on Syria, fundraising for heating kits, blankets and wood fuel, among other services. Donate here.
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Kesh Malek
As late as 2 December, Kesh Malek was running seven underground schools for 1700 children in rebel-held Aleppo, though these were temporarily suspended as the siege worsened. Donate here.
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Syria Relief and Development
Another relatively grass-roots organisation, with a particular focus on supporting women. They’re currently fundraising for the 30,000 people who have fled Aleppo in the past week. Donate here.
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Zakat Foundation of America
Zakat, the act of giving a percentage of your wealth to charity, is one of the five Pillars of Islam. This Islamic organisation is sending relief packages into the overwhelmingly Muslim city. Donate here.
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International Orthodox Christian Charities
Another religiously-motivated charity bringing aid to people displaced from Aleppo. Donate here.
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Mercy Corps
Among other services, this NGO is providing clean drinking water and hygiene kits to protect families from disease. It was in the city until September, and is now preparing to receive evacuees. Donate here.
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Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
A coalition of humanitarian, non-governmental, and medical organizations from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Turkey, brought together in 2012 to tackle the Syrian crisis on non-partisan grounds. Donate here.
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The White Helmets
The civic emergency response unit are said to have saved over 70,000 lives, and accept donations to buy emergency equipment from defibrillators to knee protectors. Donate here.
Collateral Damage 