A NEWBORN baby from Syria is the first to benefit from an initiative that provides babies in war-torn countries with a safe place to sleep.

Little Jamilla has been helped by a programme, delivered by Save the Children in Greece, which provides new mothers in refugee camps with a baby box full of blankets, clothing, nappies, wipes and soap.

The baby box is being provided by Dedham-based company British Baby Box.

Sarah Simons, co-founder, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in such an important scheme, targeting some of the most vulnerable women and children in the world right now.

“Our baby boxes provide babies with a comfortable, practical, portable and safe place to sleep and this project allows Save The Children to respond quickly to the needs of the youngest children of Syria displaced or affected by the conflict.”

Since 2012, Save The Children has led a large, complex response to the war in Syria, reaching children and families in besieged areas, refugee camps and host communities.

The British Baby Box initiative is being introduced in Greece, where more than 80,000 Syrian refugees have fled in the last year.

Of those, 1,000 have given birth in Greek refugee camps in 2016 alone.

A spokesperson for Save The Children said: “Two-month-old Jamilla, from Syria, is the first baby to receive a British Baby Box.

“It is a unique invention that offers the babies a safe place to sleep and an equal start in life.

“Until a few days ago, Jamilla had no bed and slept with her parents, because of overcrowding in accommodation.

“We would like to thank UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Greece Greece European Commission, ECHO, The European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, and the UBS Optimus Foundation for supporting this important program.

“It is protecting the lives of babies of refugees and immigrants in Greece.”

All baby boxes come with a lid which can be used as a changing mat facility.

It also has a fitted mattress with an attached waterproof mattress cover and a cotton fitted sheet.

Susan Purse, co-founder, added: “Baby boxes have been gifted to Finnish parents as part of a starter kit for the last 80 years and infant mortality rates in Finland are among the lowest in the world.

“It might sound odd to tell new mums to put their baby to bed in what is essentially a cardboard box but studies have shown that putting a baby to sleep in a baby box rather than a cot or Moses’ basket can help reduce the causes associated with sudden infant death syndrome.”