Children
Children in Syria with no Future
Source: The Guardian
As per UNICEF, more than 90% of children in Syria, that is 6.5 million children need urgent humanitarian assistance. As many as 2 million could not get life-saving assistance due to difficulty in reaching some areas or areas under siege. It is the highest number since the onset of war in 2011.
For the last 11 years, children in Syria have known nothing but hunger, violence, abuse, war, strikes, explosions, filth, death and loss of family members. They do not know about education, development and happiness. They all need their safety of themselves from war and hunger.
They are living with permanent scars of physical and psychological torment.
UNICEF reported that children in Syria are unable to live with basic amenities and are facing violence and displacement. Around 13000 children have been officially reported to be killed due to landmines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants. Millions are displaced.
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At such a tender age they are not just facing deaths but losing their dear ones each day and hence, are bearing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, sadness, fatigue and loss of sleep.
Thousands of children become disabled and are living in more aggrieved situations.
Families in poverty-stricken Syria could not arrange for the bare minimum food and health necessities due to skyrocketing food prices, rampant unemployment and overall economic degradation. The Ukrainian war crisis also makes the hunger situation worse as the strained grain supply from Russia and Ukraine limits the food grains availability and fuels the food prices further.
It does not seem near possible for Syria to come out of poverty and hardship for continuing political instability and fragility.
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In such a scenario, funding for assistance is fast dwindling, says UNICEF. UNICEF reported receiving only half of the funds they need for assistance. An International organisation Care found in its survey that funds are fast running out to support Syrian refugees. We need more funds, political resolutions and will from every party concerned to restore basic systems to provide adequate food and nutrition, clean water, health, safety and education. The international community can not wait to bring peace in Syria.
For the last decade children in Syria are suffering from innumerable open fronts- war, poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Average food basket prices have escalated by about 230%.
Children under the age of five are suffering from the worst form of malnutrition that results in stunting.
Deliberate attacks and destruction of education facilities are one such feature of the Syrian war.
More than 2.4 million children in Syria get out of school and it constitutes 40% of girls. Schools are being destroyed. Many schools are now being used as shelter houses or for military purposes. It is the worst human rights violation by the armed forces to attack schools, teachers and children as their military strategy.
Children are increasingly being recruited into the armed forces causing a security threat.
Medical facilities and educational institutions along with dedicated personnel are attacked.
Living conditions are particularly harsh in northwest Syria where millions of children are displaced. Life in tents, shelters and broken buildings is very difficult due to harsh climatic conditions like severely cold winters, torrential rains and snow.
Children are languishing in armed and detention camps, especially in northeast Syria. They need repatriation and reintegration with society.
Children are forced to flee their places and become refugees in neighbouring countries. Children along with their parents and sometimes alone make precarious journeys in the Mediterranean sea to reach safe places in Europe.
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Due to extreme poverty or the death of earning members of the family, children are entering the Labour market. Families are giving priority to food over education for their children. The Care in its assessment reports that boys between the age of 13 and 17 are engaging in labour to support their family income. Most refugee households are run by women as their husbands either remain in Syria or are being killed. Such families have no income support. Children are forced to support their mothers in such a financial crisis.
Additionally, sexual violence has become a characteristic of the Syrian conflict. For this reason, the mobility of girls is restricted and they are not allowed to attend school and remain at home.
Parties involved in war must refrain from attacking children and basic life-saving infrastructures like hospitals, clinics, schools, water points, and assistance centres.
Those who are engaged in war must realise that losing or winning a war is useless when it kills humanity and its innocent children. They must come to the peace table to engage in constructive talk and diplomacy instead of the cycle of deaths and endless destitution of people.
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The international community can come together to put pressure on political parties in Syria and others who are fueling the war sentiments to establish peace and construction in the country.
Individual interests and gains must be drained to bring out peace and tranquillity for all.
Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa praised the perseverance and resolve of the children and young people of Syria. He admired the ability of children to learn, fight the odds, and determination to build a better future.
This generation of innocent children might remain in a perpetual cycle of poverty and hardships with no education, skills, or health at this point in time. Right to education, health and safety are the basics for each and every child in any kind of situation. They should not be denied their rights. It is not just the responsibility of parents but the governments and international communities to come together and provide care and support to each child.
Like all children, children in Syria need care and nurturing.