UNICEF calls for a rescue plan for Syria’s children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called for an urgent rescue plan for Syria’s children, warning of a tragic reality threatening 10.5 million children suffering from poverty and malnutrition amid the collapse of basic services.

The organization confirmed in a statement that more than 75% of Syria’s children were born during the war, meaning that most of them have known nothing but violence, displacement, and destruction throughout their lives.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that the long years of war have devastated the childhoods of millions, and that many have suffered from hardship throughout their lives.

She added: We must act immediately to guarantee every Syrian child’s right to safety, education, and dignity.

The organization noted that nine out of 10 people in Syria live below the poverty line, forcing many families to resort to desperate measures such as child labor and child marriage.

As for daily risks, 5 million children are still exposed to unexploded ordnance (UXO), an estimated 300,000 pieces are scattered across the country.

Nada Haj Khidr