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Since the outbreak of civil war in Syria, more than 12000 children have been killed in the
bloody conflict that has ravaged the country in recent years, 3200 of which have perished
this very year. In total 7.5 million children have been affected and majority of them forced
into a life of a refugee. 70000 refugee children have fled into neighboring countries in Europe
alone. Refugee children are faced with the immediate problems of medical care, shelter,
protection against the harsh winter, food and clean water etc. These innocent children
represent the future of Syria that is threatened by war and need to be protected on an
emergency basis
January 1,
I dont care about my future; I on y care about the future of my children. I dont
care about anything other than their l education. I had no education so it is too late
for me, but it is not too late for them. I want to encourage them to study. I want my
children to have a better life than the one I had
Scope:
The problem of refugee children is anything but
contained in any specific area. Refugees are flooding
into neighbouring countries near and far, wherever it
is deemed safe. This includes Jordan, Lebanon,
Turkey, Egypt, North Africa, the Middle East and many
countries in Europe such as Greece, France, Croatia,
and Germany.
World vision has reported that Turkey has accepted
more than 1.9 million refugees; Iraq despite its own
war is hosting 250,000. In Lebanon there are more
than 1.1 million. They have taken up residence
wherever they can, including sheds, garages, quarters,
abandoned houses and tent settlements on empty
land. Conditions there are unsanitary and crowded,
yet families struggle to pay rent for these spaces
regardless.
In Jordan there are nearly 630,000 refugees, mostly
staying in rented housing or host families. The Zaatari
I have nine children, aged between two and 16. One of my sons was two and
a half when the war started. Every time he could hear bombing he would get
very scared and hide under the covers. He still does this here in the camp
when he sees planes coming over, as he thinks they are coming to bomb us.
My children havent only seen bombing; they have also seen death with their
own eyes. One of my cousins has lost two children, and his mother, sister and
brother, from the bombing. This is why I left: I had to save my familys lives.
Immediate concerns:
Medical care: Physical and mental health of refugee children
Food and Water: Providing sustenance and clean water facilities
Separated families: Reuniting refugee children with their family members
Shelter: Provision of adequate shelter and housing
Winter: Protection from the onset of cold weather in winters
Health:
A large number of refugee children have escaped
from war affected areas in a scramble, without any
preparation, supplies or plan of where they are
headed. Many are injured by snipers, stray bullets,
falling debris, fires, and bomb blasts. Some have
amputated limbs and deeply infected wounds that
require
immediate
attention.
Under
the
circumstances medical care is unreachable or
inadequate, that includes special medicines and
vaccines for children that are susceptible to diseases
or have medical conditions like asthma and diabetes
etc.
Separated Families:
A large number of refugee children have been
separated from their families, many of which are
missing, dead or detained by the authorities.
According to some reports there were 2,440
unaccompanied or separated children in Lebanon and
1,320 in Jordan, 3700 of which were living without
one or both parents. Moreover 41,962 female-headed
households in Jordan, and 36,622 in Lebanon
recorded by 2013 alone. 3
This poses a grave challenge to young children that
have been parted from their families and are left with
nobody to take care of them in this hostile and
dangerous environment where even adults are
unsafe.
Shelter:
Most of the refugee families cross borders with
nowhere to go to. They are sometimes allotted
meagre budgets by local governments to find housing,
yet in most cases it is extremely inadequate
considering local housing rates. Therefore families
have to depend upon the generosity of strangers and
host families for places to live. The rest have to live in
ramshackle hand built shelters that dont even keep
the elements out and have no heating.
For many families this means that everyone including
children as young as 3 have to work menial jobs in
demeaning and dangerous environments to earn a
modicum of cash so that they can afford basic
necessities or maybe humble housing to protect their
families.
Winter:
On a similar note with the issue of shelter, one of the
worst problems faced by the refugee children is the
oncoming danger of winters. The weather in these
regions turns very harsh in winters with frequent
snowfall, rain and constant wind. Under these
circumstances the refugees have no warm clothing or
protection from the elements.
January 1,
Current Efforts
Currently there are major aid efforts underway for the
assistance of Syrian refugees. Nations and
organizations around the world are contributing
significant amounts of finance and resources towards
the effort. However considering the sheer number of
refugees and the fact that they are spread across a
huge area and many countries has affected the
struggle to facilitate the refugees.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR) is taking an active role in the rehabilitation
of refugee children at an immediate basis, they are
distributing supplies and survival packages including
blankets, preserved food, warm clothing, sleeping
bags and raincoats etc. in collaboration with other
NGOs they have set up tents, portable toilets with
running water for drinking and sanitation purposes. In
places Wi-Fi facilities have been set up, for some this
is the only means to get in touch with their families
back home. Food vouchers are distributed by world
food Program.
Recommendations
The Syrian refugee children predicament is not a localised or domestic emergency, but is a global humanitarian crisis.
The countries in the immediate locality of Syria are already overburdened and struggling with accommodating the
refugees in a short time and scarcity of resources. Therefore it is now up to the international community to intensify
their contribution towards the effort if any significant headway is to be made in this regard.
1. There is need for joint mobilization of resources at
the international level by all countries currently
uninvolved in the rehabilitation effort, catalysed
by the United Nations.
Bibliography:
Anthony Sharwood. "10 Simple Points to Help You Understand the Syria Conflict." NewsComAu. N.p., 27 Aug. 2013.
Web. 16 Dec. 2015.
"The Future of Syria | Refugee Children in Crisis." The Future of Syria. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2015
Macdowell, Andrew. "Winter Is Coming the New Crisis for Refugees in Europe." The Guardian. N.p., 2 Nov. 2015.
Web.
World Vision, Staff. "What You Need to Know: Crisis in Syria, Refugees, and the Impact on Children." World Vision.
N.p., 4 Dec. 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.
Save the Children, Staff. "Children of Syria." Save the Children. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.
Martin Hartberg, and Dominic Bowen. "Failing Syria." (n.d.): n. pag. Save the Children. Mar. 2015. Web.
UNHCR Staff. "UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response." UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response. N.p., 17
Dec. 2015. Web. 03 Jan. 2016
Melissa Flemming. "Winter of 2015-16: UNHCR News. N.p., 23 Oct. 2015. Web. 03 Jan. 2016.