King Charles makes donation to help charity's work in Syria

International Rescue Committee UK said it was 'honoured' to receive the pledge from UK monarch

King Charles III has made a donation to support the International Rescue Committee's work in Syria. Photo: IRC UK

Britain’s King Charles has made a donation to support an international charity’s humanitarian work in Syria.

The International Rescue Committee UK said it was “honoured” to receive the pledge from the king, who has been patron of the organisation since 2021. The contribution underscores the monarch’s “deep commitment to addressing urgent global challenges, and helping people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives”, said Khusbu Patel, IRC UK's acting executive director.

“We are immensely grateful to his majesty the king for his donation supporting our work in Syria. This assistance will enable us to provide essential services, including health care, child protection and emergency cash, to those people most in need. His dedication shines a vital spotlight on these pressing challenges, and we hope it inspires others to join in supporting these efforts.”

Syria ranks fourth on the IRC's 2025 Emergency Watchlist, following 13 years of devastating civil war that last month brought the fall of the Assad regime. It has also endured western sanctions targeting deposed president Bashar Al Assad's regime.

Millions of Syrians have been displaced and the country's economy and civil infrastructure are in tatters. A World Health Organisation analyst last week said approximately half of Syria's hospitals are out of service. Seven out of 10 people living in the country need support, according to the UN.

The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012 and recently carried out an assessment in the north-east of the country, where hostilities are continuing. It identified areas of concern, including unsafe childbirth conditions, an alarming rise in cold-related illnesses, widespread water contamination, and critical shortages of medical supplies.

Towns and villages in Syria are becoming accessible for the first time in years, prompting the IRC to expand its work to address the urgent needs of these communities, it said.

The charity provides primary, reproductive, and mental health care, as well as supporting health facilities and mobile teams offering critical trauma care. The IRC also delivers counselling and protection for women and children, particularly survivors of violence, along with cash assistance, early recovery and early childhood development support.

The king’s donation comes as Saudi Arabia launched a humanitarian air bridge to Syria on Wednesday, delivering food, shelter and medical supplies. The air bridge, established by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), will “be followed by another land bridge in the coming days”, said Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the head of KSrelief, the Saudi Press Agency reported.