Peace must prevail for Syria’s children

DAMASCUS, 17 December 2024 - "Today, I concluded my visit to Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Idlib where I witnessed the dire situation for Syria's children. After 14 years of war, millions of children have known nothing but conflict, forcing them to grow up far too quickly. Yet there is hope and an opportunity for a better future.

"UNICEF remains on the ground delivering lifesaving assistance and supporting Syrian families as they chart a new path for their country. A credible and inclusive political transition must prioritise the rights of Syria's 10 million children.

"As I travelled across Syria, the scale of the need was staggering. 7.5 million children need humanitarian assistance. 6.4 million children are in urgent need of protection services as insecurity and economic hardship deepen child rights violations, fear and distress.

"Syria needs a large-scale social protection scheme to prevent the most vulnerable children and families from falling deeper into extreme poverty, as the prices of fuel, bread and basic goods continue to rise.

"The challenges families face are compounded by years of conflict. More than 2.4 million children are out of school, with another 1 million children at risk of dropping out. This puts them at higher risk of child labour, child marriage, trafficking, and recruitment and use by parties to conflict. Prioritising education, empowering teachers, and strengthening the education system are essential to foster social cohesion, tolerance, and peace.

"Healthcare remains fragile. Almost 40 per cent of hospitals and health facilities are partly or completely non-functional. Nearly 13.6 million people need water, sanitation, and hygiene services; and 5.7 million people, including 3.7 million children, require nutritional assistance. Reinforcing Syria's health, water, and sanitation infrastructure must be a priority.

"Early recovery must be supported by the international community. It is the only way to ensure sustainable, quality services for Syria's children and young people.

"Tragically, as families return to homes devastated by conflict, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a deadly threat. Since 2020, these remnants of war have killed more than 1,260 children. In just the past week, at least 11 children have lost their lives in incidents near Aleppo, Daraa, and Hama.

"Children are particularly vulnerable to these hazards, often mistaking UXO for toys or objects of curiosity. These risks not only threaten their safety but also hinder their ability to go to school, access health care, and rebuild their lives. UXO makes agricultural lands unusable, perpetuating

food insecurity and poverty for returning families. Urgent action is needed, including intensified humanitarian demining efforts, community awareness, and mine-risk education campaigns and support for victims.

"In northern Syria, objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population continue to come under attack. Tishreen Dam, a critical water source for hundreds of thousands, has been badly damaged in ongoing clashes. UNICEF-supported teams are making repairs, but sustained and safe access is needed to prevent further damage.

"We urge all parties to refrain from military activity that puts the dam, its staff, or operations in jeopardy in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law. A collapse would devastate 45 downstream villages, home to 300,000 people - half of them children - creating a catastrophe of epic proportions.

"Peace must prevail for Syria's children. While the challenges ahead are immense, UNICEF urges all parties and the international community to take four critical steps:

• State institutions must resume operations to sustain essential services, including education.
• All possible actions must be taken to allow robust humanitarian response and economic recovery. Both public and private sectors should be engaged in this process.
• Humanitarian assistance must be increased immediately, including for returning internally displaced persons and refugees, accompanied by safe, unimpeded access to reach families in need.
• All parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.

"UNICEF remains committed to staying and delivering for children. In 2024, UNICEF reached over 4.6 million people with critical education, nutrition, health, child protection, water, sanitation, and social protection services, including 2.7 million children, 1.2 million women, and over 40,000 people with disabilities. In response to recent escalations, UNICEF deployed 185 mobile medical teams, facilitated education for 10,000 vulnerable children with 12 prefabricated schools, and ensured access to clean water for over 3 million people. We also provided psychosocial support, protection services, and life-skills education to thousands of displaced people, fostering trust, social cohesion, and hope.

"With these steps, Syria can begin moving toward sustained peace.

"I sincerely hope these efforts will be realised and that 2025 will - finally - be a peaceful year for Syria's children."

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