The syria house-london
In the absence of a legitimate and credible government to represent Syrians in the wake of the February 6th, 2023 Syria-Türkiye earthquakes, Madaniya mobilised Syrian CSOs in the diaspora to establish the Syria House, a home away from home, to receive condolences and diplomatic visits on the highest level! In London, Madaniya worked with UK-based Syrian Civil society organisations, including Action for Sama, Syrian British Consortium and others to open a new temporary community space in Trafalgar Square. The space was opened following a special event on Tuesday 14 February attended by His Majesty King Charles III, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The space was then open to the public for three days, inviting people to join in remembrance of Syrian earthquake victims and show solidarity to families of those still missing following the catastrophic earthquakes. The House received visits from the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lamy, Leader of Westminster City Council, Adam Hug, Former UK Envoy to Syria, Jonathan Hargreaves, Interim Syria Special Envoy, Charles King, other members of the FCDO team and government officials.
“Many of the complications in the international response to the earthquake in Syria today would have been addressed had Syrians had a legitimate and credible government to work with them. Only a political solution according to UNSC resolution 2254 can bring justice to the Syrians; victims of the quake, 12 years of conflict, and decades of oppression,”
Sawsan Abou Zainedin, CEO of Madaniya.
In the absence of a legitimate and credible government to represent Syrians in the wake of the February 6th, 2023 Syria-Türkiye earthquakes, Madaniya mobilised Syrian CSOs in the diaspora to establish the Syria House and receive diplomatic visits on the highest level! “Syria House, this home away from home in London, is so important. We’ve witnessed so many crimes with our own eyes. We never thought we would survive. We buried friends and loved ones with our own hands. We’ve been displaced from our homes. Yet, we feel so shocked by this catastrophe. It’s different now, as we can’t be with our families and the ones we love. It’s different because we as Syrians have been left alone again, even in this natural disaster,”
Waad al-Kateab, Syrian activist, filmmaker and Co-Founder of Action For Sama.
