One of the deadliest conflicts of our time has left more than 6.1 million children in need of assistance.
After 11 years of war, a generation of children have lost their homes, their security, access to schooling, and their childhood.
Now in 2022, UNICEF is urgently appealing for funds to deliver emergency supplies including nutrition, protection, support and education to millions of children who still live in constant fear.
Syria Crisis Appeal
For a decade, a generation of children have grown up knowing nothing but war.
EMERGENCY UPDATE:
Since the beginning of the war 11 years ago, nearly 13,000 children have been reported killed or injured – but we know the toll is much higher.
The economic crisis, continued violence, hostilities, mass displacement, devastated public service and COVID-19, means that 90 per cent of Syrians now live below the poverty line. And the needs of children and families continue to rise.
Right now, these factors have led to an increase in acute malnutrition across the country, most significantly in the northwest. More than 90,000 children are now suffering from acute malnutrition.
One in three of the country’s schools have been damaged or destroyed. Many children are being forced to work to provide for their families rather than study. Most earn less than $2 a day.
Violence is ongoing in the northwest, threatening the lives of children and families. Millions are displaced, taking refuge in public facilities, schools, mosques, unfinished buildings and shops. Many are living in parks, amidst heavy rains and freezing cold weather.
With your support, UNICEF can continue to deliver assistance to families in need so children can start looking towards the future.
Support Syrian children in need
We're supporting Syrian children in camps, on the move and in temporary, makeshift settlements.
Syria Crisis Appeal
For a decade, a generation of children have grown up knowing nothing but war.
Children in Syria are going hungry
Ishak, one and a half years old, lives with his mother Abir (22) and his father and extended family together in house in rural Damascus. Her husband, who was injured during conflict, barely earns enough to keep the family afloat.
"Our poor diet affected the health of my daughter-in-law when she was pregnant. I believe it also impacted little Ishak’s health,” says Rana, Ishak’s grandmother.
When Ishak started solids, he struggled to adjust. He suffered from asthma and was often sick up to 20 days at a time. He was not meeting his milestones and walked and talked later than other children his age.
In December 2022, Abir heard that a UNICEF-supported mobile medical team would be visiting their town. She rushed him there to be seen. They told her that he was suffering from moderate acute malnutrition.
After three months of regular appointments and treatment by the UNICEF-supported mobile health team he was walking, and talking, and recovered from malnutrition.
"I couldn’t hold back my tears in that moment. We’ve been blessed with this help."
90%
Inside Syria, nearly 90 per cent of people live in poverty.
58%
In northwest Syria, 58 per cent of school-aged children are out of school.
Syria Crisis Appeal
For a decade, a generation of children have grown up knowing nothing but war.
Rebuilding futures with pre-built schools for Syrian children
In northwest Syria, about 58 per cent of children aren’t attending school. Many are forced to work to support their families.
Often this is because there are no schools nearby. One in three has been destroyed or is littered with landmines. Some have been converted into military facilities.
In 2022 alone, UNICEF has provided 58 new prefabricated schools across the country. By deploying portable, pre-built schools in the most damaged neighbourhoods, we’re enabling children to return to the classroom, giving them a chance to rebuild their lives. In some community schools, students can work part of the day and attend classes suited to their abilities.
But millions of children still need access to continue their education. Donate now to provide essential supplies and more prefabricated classrooms and clinics around the country.
Syria Crisis Appeal
For a decade, a generation of children have grown up knowing nothing but war.
"Syria today is one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a child. An entire generation is struggling to survive."
How will my donation help children?
We’re reaching children in Syria every day. So far this year, UNICEF has:
+250k
Screened 254,522 children under five for acute malnutrition
2.3 m
Kept 2.3 million children safe from polio inside Syria
1 m
Helped 1 million people access clean, safe water and sanitation services
But we need your help so we can reach more Syrian children and families in need with food, clean toilets, medicine, education, safe places and shelter, trauma counselling, winter clothing and vaccinations.
- $90 can help to provide 300 vaccines to help protect children from polio
- $125 could provide 3151 sachets of micronutrient powder to help prevent anaemia and vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- $250 could help to contribute to a pre-build classroom, so children can continue their education
How do we use each dollar donated?
- 90¢90 cents of every dollar donated to this emergency went directly to our emergency response work in the field.
- 10¢10 cents per dollar covers the essential administrative costs of raising public awareness and fundraising to generate more support for UNICEF’s emergency response.
How do we use each dollar donated?
If you choose to donate monthly, or in the unlikely event that UNICEF receives more funds than needed for this emergency response, your gift will help support UNICEF's work for children in need around the world.
Syria Crisis Appeal
For a decade, a generation of children have grown up knowing nothing but war.