According to UNICEF there are around 13.5 million people in Syria in desperate need of aid. #CookForSyria aims to help.

With 4.8 million refugees and 6.6 million displaced within their own country, the war in Syria is the largest humanitarian crisis of our time.

For one month only, Syrian cuisine is being celebrated as part of a nation-wide fundraising initiative #CookForSyria to raise money in aid.

At the start of the month, a campaign launched to encourage everyone to cook and raise money for UNICEF’s Syria Relief fund.

The initiative is curated by well known food Instagrammer “Clerkenwell Boy” in collaboration with Suitcase Magazine, Gemma Bell PR and Next Generation London (Unicef’s youth branch).

Everyone is encouraged to get involved - from the UK’s top chefs to restaurant owners to home cookers.

There are over 100 different restaurants, bars and cafés participating, including restaurants owned by Jamie Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi. Signature dishes with a “Syrian inspired twist” have and will be featured, each with a £2 donation incorporated in the price.

Dinners, banquets, supper clubs and charity bakes are being held by members of the public along with award winning chefs including Fergus Henderson, José Pizarro, Nuno Mendes and Sami Tamimi.

Syrian inspired recipes have also been shared online by experienced bakers and cookbook authors. Pop ups, cooking demonstrations and kebab parties are also going down in the capital this month.

Clerkenwell Boy, known to some as Tim says: “We hope that through the #CookForSYRIA campaign we will not only be able to raise significant and much needed money for Unicef UK’s Children of Syria Fund, we will also increase awareness of the plight of children in the war-torn country.

“Through cooking, sharing recipes and the power of social media, we invite everyone to help make a difference and positive contribution towards this important initiative.”

Many are hoping that the project will continue globally.

We might be celebrating Syrian cuisine until the end of the month, but the crisis continues:

“50% of all Syrian refugees are children and boys as young as seven are being recruited to fight.

“The risk of losing a generation grows with every day that the current situation deteriorates.”

Find out how you can get involved at cookforsyria.com.