A 12-month cash assistance programme for refugee woman and vulnerable families in Egypt has been announced by a leading global humanitarian charity in Sharjah.

The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has joined hands with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide cash grants worth Dh550,000 ($150,000) for refugee women and vulnerable families in Egypt.

The donation targets 100 households accounting for 400 individuals, providing them with financial aid that enables them to pay for rent, food, clothing, health care and education.

The plan has been formulated to help provide for the more than 100,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt, many of whom are vulnerable women and children forced to live in extremely difficult circumstances. The UNHCR is distributing the donated funds to the designated in-need recipients in collaboration with local partners in Egypt.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of 'Salam Ya Seghar,' a TBHF initiative to improve the welfare of refugee children, said that Egypt was bearing a huge burden with the mounting number of Syrian refugees seeking safe shelter there after fleeing the crisis in their home country.

Al Hammadi said: "The Egyptian authorities have been doing their utmost to help Syrian refugees, but the situation is becoming increasingly worse for many displaced families. We must all do what we can to help these vulnerable people who are living in terrible conditions through no fault of their own.

"The implementation of the cash grants programme comes in line with the vision of Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, for the need to redouble efforts and enhance collaborative work by the UNHCR, governments and civil society to help and support refugees in host countries."

She added: "The financial aid will enable refugees cover their expenses for essential living items and meet educational needs of refugee children. The overall aim of the programme will be restoring the dignity and wellbeing of the recipients. Through this donation to the UNHCR, we are striving to help these families with unconditional cash grants in order to ease their suffering."

Toby Harward, Head of UNHCR Abu Dhabi, said: "This kind contribution from TBHF is a demonstrated evidence of the foundation's commitment to continue supporting Syrian refugees. The UNHCR is deeply grateful for this generous contribution which will allow most vulnerable refugee families in Egypt to secure basic life necessities."

Since its inception, TBHF has succeeded in providing life-saving medical services to over 365,000 Syrian displaced persons and has provided more than 400,000 others with food and financial aid.

In February 2016, the foundation donated $350,000 towards two projects run by the UNHCR to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Iraq survive tough winter conditions.

In June 2015, Shaikha Jawaher launched TBHF in June 2015 to coincide with World Refugee Day.