Two Years of Conflict in Syria
The conflict in Syria has taken a terrible humanitarian toll. More than anything, this is a children’s crisis. Of the one million refugees, half are children. Inside Syria, two million children are affected, and 800,000 are displaced.
UNICEF has been on the ground, doing all it can to help the children and families affected by the violence.
But a huge funding gap threatens UNICEF's efforts on behalf of these desperate children: 78% of the funds that UNICEF needs have not been raised. Without immediate additional funding, UNICEF will have to halt many of its key lifesaving interventions.
Over the past two years, the conflict in Syria has taken a terrible humanitarian toll. More than anything, this is a children’s crisis. Of the one million refugees, half are children. Inside Syria, two million children are affected, and 800,000 are displaced.
As a whole society is torn apart, the effect of the violence on children is profound. Many have been killed or injured. Others, witnesses to horrific acts, are suffering from trauma. And an entire generation is at risk of losing out on the hopes and opportunities it is entitled to. In fact, children’s basic needs are barely being met: Water availability is a third of what it was before the crisis, and one in every five schools in Syria is either damaged or serving as a shelter. Hundreds of thousands of children have had their educations disrupted.
Children attend a remedial class, held inside a building sheltering displaced families, in Homs, Syria. UNICEF and a local partner are providing the classes in various facilities throughout the city. ©UNICEF/NYHQ2013-0131/Iman MorookaUNICEF has been on the ground for the past two years, doing all it can to help the children and families affected by the violence.To date, we have helped vaccinate 1.3 million children inside the country, and plan to immunize 3 million more in coming months. We have given 4 million people access to clean water, and will deliver water purification supplies for 10 million. We have distributed blankets and winter clothes. Outside Syria, UNICEF has supported 300,000 displaced children with clean water and sanitation, health services, psychosocial support and education.
But a huge funding gap threatens UNICEF's efforts on behalf of these desperate children: 78% of the funds that UNICEF needs have not been raised. Without immediate additional funding, UNICEF will have to halt many of its key lifesaving interventions. It will no longer be able to meet the basic needs of children, like water and sanitation, immunization and emergency medical care. Additional funding is also required to send children to school and keep them safe.
On the two-year anniversary of the Syrian conflict, UNICEF has released a crisis report outlining the situation on the ground, and what UNICEF is doing to help. You can read the report here.The children of Syria urgently need our help.Please donate to support UNICEF’s emergency relief efforts for children affected by the crisis in Syria.
Children attend a remedial class, held inside a building sheltering displaced families, in Homs, Syria. UNICEF and a local partner are providing the classes in various facilities throughout the city. ©UNICEF/NYHQ2013-0131/Iman Morooka
