During these long years of conflict and continuous displacement we have witnessed how the children of Syria bear the brunt.
Added to the war are an unprecedented economic crisis, disease outbreaks and, more recently, deadly earthquakes, which are pushing the most vulnerable minors to the limit of survival.
During my recent visits to northern Syria, I witnessed the impact on schools, healthcare and essential infrastructure, and saw how so many children, parents and communities face hardship and trauma.
The conflict in Syria has just turned 13 years old and hostilities continue unabated in various parts of the country, especially in the northwest.
Serious violations of children's rights persist.
Since the start of the conflict, more than 14,000 children have been killed or injured in Syria, according to UN data.
Continued exposure to violence and the loss of caregivers have long-lasting negative effects on children's mental and psychosocial well-being.
Many children have been victims or survivors of violence and others have witnessed it.
They have often been forced to flee their homes and been separated from their families and loved ones.
According to a household survey carried out in northern Syria, 34% of girls and 31% of boys reported experiencing psychosocial distress.
Similarly, rapid assessments carried out in the earthquake-affected areas showed that a high number of children had serious behavioral disorders (83% of those surveyed).
“I didn't want to see pity in the eyes of my friends and neighbors, so I preferred to stay at home, surrendered to depression and sadness,” explains Hassan, for example.
This 17-year-old boy was seriously injured and lost his hand when an unexploded device exploded.
I didn't want to see pity in the eyes of my friends and neighbors, so I preferred to stay at home, surrendered to depression and sadness.
Hassan, a 17-year-old Syrian boy
The conflict has also had a devastating effect on the Syrian economy, pushing millions of people into poverty.
Most families are unable to make ends meet.
They have exhausted their resources, with few employment opportunities, skyrocketing prices and shortages of basic supplies.
Fewer and fewer children in Syria can access and consume a minimally varied diet in early childhood.
This situation, compounded by the collapse of service delivery systems and skyrocketing commodity prices, has led to a drastic increase in child malnutrition.
“The house is full of hungry children.
How do you say no to a child when he asks you for food? ”Explains Manal, one of the many mothers who struggle to feed her children.
“My husband and I cried every night when our children went to bed hungry.
They were too thin and we were afraid of losing them,” she explained.
According to the 2023 SMART survey in Syria, more than 650,000 children under the age of five are stunted.
This is a significant increase compared to 2019, when the number of stunted children was 500,000.
This stunting is the result of chronic malnutrition and causes irreversible physical and mental damage, affecting their ability to learn, productivity and income later in adulthood.
A system that is faltering
In Syria, systems that support children's access to essential services are faltering.
Half the primary care system is broken, and many families are forced to delay medical care or take long trips if they can afford it.
Disease outbreaks and the impact of the February 2023 earthquakes are putting additional pressure on the already overstretched public health services and healthcare delivery in the country.
Access to essential health and nutrition services is expected to worsen in 2024.
Half of the primary care system is broken, and many families are forced to delay medical care or take long trips if they can afford it.
In 2023, UNICEF will reach more than 15.8 million people in Syria, including 10 million children, with essential services and supplies.
Nearly 3.2 people like Manal benefited from life-saving nutrition services.
Preventive nutrition services are also provided, such as micronutrient supplementation, growth monitoring and counselling, and support for breastfeeding and age-appropriate complementary feeding.
Essential health services and supplies, access to clean water and good sanitation are also provided to give more children the chance to survive.
In total, 1.7 million people, like young Hassan, received child protection support: provision of mental health and psychosocial support services to help cope with crises, solve problems, manage emotions, and train and maintain relationships.
We also help parents and caregivers acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to help their children in difficult situations.
However, 16.7 million people – the highest number since the start of the conflict in 2011 – will need humanitarian assistance in 2024. Almost 7.5 million of them are children.
Although funding for the humanitarian response remains limited in 2024, UNICEF needs $401.7 million (€369.1 million) to provide essential livelihoods to 8.5 million people, including 5.4 million children.
The greatest financing needs are for water, sanitation, hygiene;
health;
and education, while protection remains a high priority.
It is essential that we continue to support Syria's most vulnerable children to get back on their feet and equip them with the skills they need to build a better future.
When we invest in their education, well-being and safety we can give them hope.
With additional funding, we can help restore delivery systems for essential basic social services, such as education, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, child and social protection, without any child in Syria being left behind.
Eva Hinds
is responsible for Communication in Syria at Unicef.
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