Since 2011 as a result of the fighting in Syria, approximately 8 million children have been impacted. These kids have had to endure unspeakable violence and abuse. For some children the horrors of war are the only thing they have ever known. It is estimated that as many as two million Syrian children have had to flee their homes with the number continuing to rise.
Make a New Year’s resolution to help
New Year’s Day is traditionally the time when most of us make resolutions. This year UNICEF is asking people to make a resolution for the children of Syria. The aid agency wants people to help them make 2016 a year of hope for children affected by the civil war after nearly 5 years of despair. Just like everybody else, Syrian children have hopes and dreams.
Children are losing access to education
For example one six year old girl named Fatima wants to be an artist. Unfortunately she and her family have had to flee their home after the city they lived in was seized by the Islamic State. The new school that Fatima now attends in Western Syria is now stretched to the limit and is in dire need of supplies and space to teach in. The education system in Syria is under intense pressure to accommodate children like Fatima. After nearly half a decade of conflict UNICEF estimates that 2 million children cannot attend school with hundreds of thousands at risk of dropping out.
UNICEF is doing its bit
UNICEF is doing what it can with its local partners to address the situation. The agency is working in areas where there are large numbers of displaced children and has been able to rehabilitate 600 schools which has resulted in 300 new class rooms. UNICEF is also distributing essential school supplies such as books to as many as 3 million children.
Give children the opportunity to follow their dreams
Fatima was extremely pleased to get her school supplied for her first day back at school. She said the most exciting thing about the day was the bag. With help from ordinary people like you, UNICEF can give children such as Fatima a better life with the ability to fulfill their dreams. All of us can do so much more to help the children in Syria. In 2016 why not make the resolution to help UNICEF keep the children of Syria safe and help children like Fatima have the opportunity to follow their dreams.
