Syria regional crisis
March 15th sadly marks 8 years since the Syria conflict began in 2011. 13.1 million people including 5.3 million children have been plunged into desperate need. Over 6 million Syrians are displaced within Syria and over 5.6 million have been forced to seek refuge outside of Syria (mainly in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon), over half of those children.
Access to water, food, education and basic health services are the biggest priorities.
According to OCHA, Syria's standard of living has regressed by almost four decades due to the conflict.
- Four out of five Syrians now live in poverty.
- Life expectancy has dropped by more than 20 years.
SYRIA'S CHILDREN
In Syria, millions of children have lived through eight years of relentless war. Many children don’t know what it’s like to live without the threat of violence. Eight years of conflict have caused harm and suffering to children and their communities. The UN Secretary General’s most recent Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict found that 2017 saw the highest number of verified grave violations against children ever recorded in Syria.
Since the start of the conflict, enrolment rates for children across Syria have plummeted from 85% in 2010 to 61% in 2018. Enrolment rates for refugee children in host countries are even lower, with fees for transportation, uniforms, and other materials constituting a significant barrier.
All of this is expected to have a severe impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing. As children and adolescents struggle to see any future beyond this conflict, there's fear that they could become a lost generation.
You can support these children by donating now.
Please donate to the Syria Appeal now
We all have a responsibility to the children of Syria: to help rebuild their country and create a peaceful future; and to protect their rights – to an education, to a childhood – wherever they’re living.
- Justin Byworth, Global Humanitarian Director, World Vision International
Fears and Dreams
We asked Syrian children in Jordan and Lebanon about their fears and dreams. Approximately 60 per cent expressed fears for their personal safety or worry about losing a close relative. These statistics almost match those of a similar survey that was taken in 2017.
Whilst the Syrian children that we spoke to now live within host countries that are perceived to be safe, they often have few rights, lack of social infrastructure and increased vulnerability to violence most commonly in the forms of early marriage or child labour.
My biggest dream is to learn and study to become a doctor — to treat and cure people. But because of the war that started in Syria, I couldn’t achieve that dream. Now that I am in Jordan, I still want to pursue my dream of studying, but I was forced to go out to work to support my family. I couldn’t continue studying.
- Sara, age 15
The dreams of the children were overwhelmingly similar. Many spoke of future professions (37%), finding love and happiness (16%) and ending conflict and climate change (14%).
Read the full report here »
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP?
We began helping children and their families affected by this crisis in 2011. Eight years on and World Vision has provided assistance to 1,229,790 people (including 695,883 children).
Our work in Iraq
We've been working in the northern Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) since 2014. We're helping people who've fled their homes with food assistance, safe water and sanitation.
Read moreOur work in Lebanon
Since 2011 we've been working with Syrian refugees in Lebanon and with the local communities.
Read moreOur work in Jordan
Since 2013 we have been working alongside Syrian refugees in Jordan and with the local communities who are hosting them.
Read moreRead more about the difference one simple change can make »
Radwan's story
Having fled the war in Syria, 12-year-old refugee child Radwan was working on a construction site in Jordan when he encountered World Vision. With our help, he’s now back in school and in charge of his own future, with a smile on his face. See his story in the video below:
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HOW CAN I HELP?
You’ve helped so many children; but now in the ninth year of conflict, humanitarian needs continue to grow, and more and more families need urgent support.
13.1 million people need humanitarian assistance now – including more than 5.3 million children who have lost homes, friends, family members and seen or experienced violence that no child ever should.
But they're still children. They deserve a childhood and hope for the future.
Donate now to help Syria's children overcome the past, thrive today and hope for the future.
STORIES AND BLOGS
Syria's Refugees: Ahmad never had a hobby before
Thursday 01, Jun, 2017Joining our Child Friendly Space in Lebanon gave Ahmad an opportunity to learn new skills and games, make new friends and start …
A $4 meal for a taste of home
Thursday 06, Apr, 2017For Mayssa, a Syrian mother displaced by conflict, the $4 dollars she rations for each meal is enough to give her three children…
11 things you can do right now to help end violence against children
Thursday 09, Mar, 2017World Vision’s campaign ‘It takes a world to end violence against children’ was named because no one individual, group or organi…
LATEST REPORTS
March 2018 marked the seventh anniversary of the Syrian conflict. The conflict has quickly become the worst assault on children in a decade; the situation is becoming increasingly worse, with growing reports of violence and targeting of children.
Click here to read all about our 2017 Syria Crisis Response Report >
Click here to read all about the 2016 Syria Crisis Response Report >
View Committed to children: 2016 Syria Crisis Response Annual Review in a new window ›
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You can read more about the crisis and World Vision's response by downloading the publications below:
PUBLICATIONS
THANK YOU
So far, you've helped us raise over £1.5 million for those impacted by the war in Syria.
