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For Immediate Release
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(510) 548-0542, meca@mecaforpeace.org

Noam Chomsky Calls For Immediate Humanitarian Assistance For Syrian Refugees

Professor Noam Chomsky, world renowned linguist, writer and political activist, released an open letter this week calling for immediate humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees, beginning the letter by quoting his friend, the late Howard Zinn: "war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children."

BERKELEY, Calif.

Professor Noam Chomsky, world renowned linguist, writer and political activist, released an open letter this week calling for immediate humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees, beginning the letter by quoting his friend, the late Howard Zinn: "war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children."

In the letter he writes: "The UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that so far more than 200,000 people --Syrians, Palestinians and Iraqis have fled. Most are living of people living in makeshift camps along Syria's border. Half of them are children. Some arrive alone, having lost both parents. Many are sick or injured. All of the children are traumatized."

Prof. Chomsky is asking people to support the humanitarian aid fundraising campaign of the US nonprofit, the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA). Noam Chomsky is a founding advisor and supporter of the Middle East Children's Alliance and has worked with them for almost 25 years, declaring, "I have come to count on MECA to come to the aid of children in the Middle East who are facing the most dire circumstances. I know that the Director Barbara Lubin, Associate Director Ziad Abbas, and other staff know how to reach people in the camps who are working directly with the children. That's why I'm giving MECA my support in this crisis. And I'm asking you to join me."

The Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) is a non-profit organization working for the rights of children in the Middle East by sending humanitarian aid, supporting projects for children and educating North American and international communities about the effects of the US foreign policy on children in the region.

MECA is coordinating an aid shipment by talking directly with doctors, nurses and social workers in Jordan and Lebanon to find out what newly -arrived families need that they are not getting from large aid agencies. MECA has received a list of medicines and medical supplies that are needed immediately and are conducting an emergency fundraising campaign to increase the size and impact of the aid shipment.

The Middle East Children's Alliance is a nonprofit organization working for the rights and the well-being of children in the Middle East. MECA supports dozens of community projects for Palestinian children and refugees from Syria. Since 1988 we have delivered $27 million in food and medical aid to Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon. MECA welcomes the support of all people who care about children and their future.