King Charles III has started the new year by making a substantial donation to support humanitarian efforts in Syria. While the exact amount remains undisclosed, insiders confirm it is a significant contribution to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization dedicated to providing aid to countries in crisis. The donation comes after the recent fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime ended abruptly in December 2024 when he and his family sought refuge in Moscow following an uprising led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.
King Charles has a long-standing relationship with the IRC, having become a patron of its U.K. branch in 2021 while he was still Prince of Wales. The IRC has designated Syria as the fourth-ranked country on its 2025 watchlist due to its “profound humanitarian needs,” despite recent political shifts. Years of conflict and political instability have severely impacted the country, leaving millions in dire need of assistance.
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The IRC expressed immense gratitude for King Charles’s generosity. Khusbu Patel, acting executive director of the IRC in the U.K., stated that the King’s donation “underscores his deep commitment to addressing urgent global challenges and helping people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.” The funds will enable the IRC to deliver critical services such as healthcare, child protection, and emergency financial aid to those most affected by the crisis in Syria. Patel added that the King’s dedication highlights these urgent challenges and hopes it encourages others to contribute to these vital efforts.
The donation aligns with sentiments expressed by King Charles in his Christmas speech, where he acknowledged the devastating impact of global conflicts and commended the tireless work of humanitarian organizations providing relief. In his third Christmas address since ascending to the throne in September 2022, he specifically praised the efforts of groups working to alleviate suffering in crisis zones.
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Beyond his contribution to the IRC, King Charles has also shown support for a Catholic congregation that assists persecuted Christians in the Middle East and worldwide. Individuals wishing to support the IRC’s work in Syria can make donations through the organization’s U.S. and U.K. websites.
