Number of children suffering more than doubles in third year of Syria conflict

Among hardest hit are 1 million children under siege and in hard to reach areas

PRESS RELEASE

الخبر بالعربية

AMMAN, JORDAN, 11 March 2014 – As the conflict in Syria approaches another sombre milestone, more than twice as many children are now affected compared to 12 months ago, says a new report by UNICEF published today. Particularly hard hit are up to a million children who are trapped in areas of Syria that are under siege or that are hard to reach with humanitarian assistance due to continued violence.

Under Siege – the devastating impact on children of three years of conflict in Syria focuses on the immense damage caused to the 5.5 million children now affected by the conflict and calls for an immediate end to the violence and increased support for those affected.

The report includes the accounts of children whose lives have been devastated by the three year old war, and highlights the profound traumas many have experienced.  Children such as four-year old Adnan, who fled with his family to Lebanon, suffered facial scarring when his home was bombed and still suffers from emotional distress. “He cries all night,” his mother is quoted as saying. “He is scared of everything and is afraid when we leave him, even for a second.”

Continue reading →

Japan confirms increased support for children of Syria

AMMAN, March 2014 – UNICEF has announced a US $19.2 million contribution from the government of Japan to support the agency’s on-going humanitarian assistance inside Syria and surrounding countries.

The new funds bring Japan’s total contribution to UNICEF’s Syria crisis response to US $35 million. 

“With every passing day, more Syrian children fall victim to this senseless conflict and need our help,” said Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.  “This generous contribution will go a long way toward providing innovative ways for children in Syria – particularly those in hard-to-reach areas – to receive continued access to learning. This is vital to the future of the country.”

The funds will provide support across all UNICEF sectors with the highest proportion going to education. In January 2014, UNICEF and other partners launched the “No Lost Generation” campaign which aims to raise $US 1 billion to provide education and psychological protection to millions of Syrian children across the region.

The remaining funds will ensure access to primary health care and child protection to 855,000 children and their families inside Syria, and assistance to an estimated 2.5 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt across all UNICEF supported sectors.

For more information, please contact:

Juliette Touma, UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, jtouma@unicef.org, +962-79-867-4628

Launch of Third National Polio Vaccination Campaign in Jordan

PRESS RELEASE

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Amman, 2 March 2014 – The Ministry of Health in Jordan, with support of UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), launched the third round of the National Polio Vaccination Campaign at the Mafraq Comprehensive Health Centre Sunday, in the presence of the Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Ali Hiyasat, UNICEF Jordan Deputy Representative, Michele Servadei, WHO Public Health Officer, Dr. Sabri Gmach, and UNHCR External Relations Officer, Frauke Riller. Continue reading →

UNICEF commends Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi National Relief Committees for their work with children

PRESS RELEASE

RIYADH, 26 February, 2014 – UNICEF has commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi National Relief Committees for their ongoing collaboration, generosity and shared commitment to children at an event in Riyadh, attended by HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, and other high level dignitaries and key members of the humanitarian and business communities across the Kingdom.

Hosted by the Saudi National Relief Committees, the event aimed to raise further awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria which has devastated the lives and childhood of millions of children inside of Syria and across the sub-region and puts an entire generation at risk. Continue reading →

UNICEF report: Silent threat emerging among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

PRESS RELEASE

الخبر باللغة العربية

BEIRUT, 25th February 2014 –A UNICEF-led, joint nutrition assessment on the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon was launched today, revealing malnutrition as a silent, emerging threat.

UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), conducted the assessment in October and November 2013.  Continue reading →

Public urged to voice their outrage and demand action to prevent a lost generation in Syria

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Children cannot afford another year of bloodshed, suffering and missed education, warn aid agencies

NEW YORK, 24 February 2014 – UNICEF, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Mercy Corps, Save the Children and World Vision today issued an impassioned appeal to the general public, urging it to voice its outrage at the devastating impact on children and alarming long-term consequences of a lost generation as the conflict in Syria approaches its fourth year.

Nearly 5.5 million children are now affected inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. The five organizations warn that without an end to the relentless horror and suffering for children and without increased investment in their education and protection, an entire generation could be lost to Syria and the wider region.

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UNICEF calls for US$2.2 billion to help 59 million children in emergencies

الخبر بالعربية

Largest emergency appeal on record, almost 40 per cent for Syria and region

GENEVA, 21 February 2014 – UNICEF appealed today for almost US$2.2 billion to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in 2014 to 85 million people, including 59 million children, who face conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies in 50 countries.

“I have just returned from South Sudan, the latest large-scale conflict to disrupt the lives of millions of innocent children. Over 400,000 children and their families have been displaced by the conflict, and over 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The rainy season is coming and we need to preposition supplies and reinforce essential services, for which we need urgent funding to prevent a catastrophe,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes. Continue reading →

Germany grants additional €10 million to UNICEF’s Syria crisis response in Jordan

MEDIA RELEASE

|الخبر بالعربية|

Amman, 17 February 2014 – UNICEF’s response to the Syria crisis in Jordan received a new financial boost Monday, with the announcement of a new €10 million donation from the Government of Germany.

On a visit to Jordan, the German Minister for International Cooperation, His Excellency Gerd Müller, announced the new grant at Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID) in Hashemi Al Shemali, where UNICEF supports a Child and Family Protective Place, in partnership with INTERSOS and the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD).  Continue reading →

Briefing note on humanitarian operation, Homs, Syria

UNICEF Briefing Note

[الخبر بالعربية]

Humanitarian Operation, Old City Homs

14 February 2014

Eighteen children aged between 15 and 18 who were taken to the Al Andalus Shelter have now been released. Another 14 children remain there.

UNICEF has access to the shelter and is following the cases of all these children.

We have been able to provide the children there with some clothing, and we installed prefabricated sanitation facilities at the school. Continue reading →

UNICEF gets assistance to children evacuated from besieged area of Homs

PRESS RELEASE

الخبر بالعربية

HOMS, Syria 11 February 2014 – At least 500 children were among civilians evacuated from the besieged old city of Homs over the past few days during the ongoing humanitarian operation being undertaken by the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The humanitarian pause was the first that the UN has brokered in the embattled old quarter of the city which has been under siege for more than 600 days.  Continue reading →

At least 500 children among civilians evacuated from Old City, Homs, Syria

Newsnote

11 February 2014 - At least 500 children were among civilians evacuated from the besieged old city of Homs over the past few days during the ongoing humanitarian operation being undertaken by the United Nations and Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

UNICEF colleagues on the ground reported that the children who came out looked terrified, frail and emaciated.

Mothers were anxious, and many were crying. All they wanted was for their children to reach safety.  Continue reading →

UNICEF statement on Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic

الخبر باللغة العربية

NEW YORK, 5 February 2014 – The first report of the UN Secretary General on children and armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic provides a chilling account of the brutality and abuses that children have suffered for nearly three years, and a clear reminder of why this horrific conflict must end.

Children have been killed, arrested, abducted, tortured, mutilated, sexually abused, and recruited by armed groups; children have been used as human shields; schools and hospitals have been attacked and used for other purposes. Humanitarian access has been blocked and impeded, deepening the suffering of children and civilians.  Continue reading →

Reaching ‘stay at home’ children through critical learning opportunities

NEWS NOTE

Amman, 04 February, 2014 – UNICEF and partners in Jordan are expanding education programmes to reach the alarming number of “stay at home” children who have fallen behind by three or more grades and are no longer eligible to enrol in formal schooling.

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UNICEF estimates there are nearly 60,000 Syrian children and other vulnerable Jordanians who are too far behind in their studies to enrol in the public school system and need to be urgently connected to informal education opportunities. Continue reading →

UNICEF on standby with supplies for 1,150 children trapped in besieged Old City of Homs

UNICEF is ready with vaccines and other medical supplies for children in the besieged Old City of Homs, Syria.

Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Communications spokesperson, said UNICEF had provided a list of supplies to the Government for approval. The list of supplies includes emergency medical kits and cholera kits; soap and hygiene materials; water treatment supplies and oral rehydration salts; winter clothing for infants and polio vaccines.

All of those supplies are available at the UNICEF Homs warehouse, about 10 kilometres away from the Old City, ready to go in as soon as we have the green light, added Ms. Mercado.

For further information and interview requests, please contact:

Juliette Touma, jtouma@unicef.org, +962-79-867-4628