Save Syria's Children

Thank you for your generous support of our relief efforts for Syrian children. Since the beginning of the conflict, children have been the forgotten victims of Syria's horrific war. Today, over 5.5 million children are in need of assistance, including over 1.5 million children who have sought refuge in neighboring countries. These children are at risk of becoming a "lost generation" and cannot be ignored.

Syrian children, vulnerable girls and boys need you to support Save the Children. Syria continues to be one of the toughest places in the world to be a child. If we are to save Syria’s children, we must help Syria - provide nutritious food for Syrian kids, support education in Syrian refugee camps and much more. Donate to Syrian refugees children's relief. This is not charity for Syria, it is an investment in a peaceful future for all of our children.

Before the war almost all of Syria’s children were enrolled in school. Literacy rates were over 90%
and Syria was spending almost 5% of its annual gross domestic product (GDP) on national learning.

Four years into the conflict, some estimate that Syria now has the second worst enrolment rate in the world with almost 3 million school-aged Syrian children no longer in school. The crisis in Syria has had a profound impact on children’s lives. Escalating violence and indiscriminate attacks place children in extreme danger on a daily basis, with many witnessing or experiencing acts of extreme brutality. Huge numbers have fled their homes and lost family, friends and loved ones.

Some children have been forced to pick up arms. The number of children now in need of humanitarian protection has doubled in just one year to 5.5 million, with 1.5 million Syrian children now living outside Syria as refugees.

Inside Syria, millions are living in hard-to-reach areas and many thousands are trapped in besieged locations. Syrian children, whatever their current location, are paying a terrible price for the region’s politics, exposing them to exploitation, trauma and abuse. Their potential for living happy and fulfilled futures, and their future ability to contribute to their communities, will be placed indefinitely on pause unless the international community, national governments and civil society does more to invest in them.

Education has a catalytic effect on children’s well-being, development and future prospects as well as on peace, stability and economic development. A slow and silent assault on a child is committed each time their right to education is denied. Continued neglect of education has serious, far-reaching consequences for security, societies and economies across the region, but the window of opportunity for getting back on track is closing fast.

Read the full report

Links:

• Read the report and access citations