UNHCR: Millions of Children in Syria are Suffering from Trauma and Ill Health

• 03.18.2015, 16:19
•  Near East,  World

On the fifth year of the Syrian conflict the UNHCR presented its report on the consequences of the crisis. In the report UNHCR warns that millions of refugees in neighbouing countries and those displaced within the country are caught in alarmingly deteriorating conditions, facing an even bleaker future without more international support.

The report states that with no political solution to the conflict in sight, most of the 3.9 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt see no prospect of returning home in the near future, and have scant opportunity to restart their lives in exile. Well over half of all Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in insecure dwellings – up from a third last year – posing a constant challenge to keep them safe and warm.   A survey of 40,000 Syrian families in Jordan’s urban areas found that two-thirds were living below the absolute poverty line.

 "This worst humanitarian crisis of our era should be galvanizing a global outcry of support, but instead help is dwindling. With humanitarian appeals systematically underfunded, there just isn’t enough aid to meet the colossal needs – nor enough development support to the hosting countries creaking under the strain of so many refugees," - UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said. He pointed out that with the massive influx of Syrian refugees over the past four years, Turkey had now become the world’s biggest refugee hosting country and had spent over US$ 6 billion on direct assistance to refugees. 

The report further says that more and more Syrians are losing hope. Thousands have tried to reach Europe by taking often deadly land or sea routes after paying their life savings to smugglers. Many have not made it. Those who do, face rising hostility as refugees are conflated with security concerns in a climate of rising panic.

Inside Syria, the situation is deteriorating rapidly. More than 12 million people are in need of aid to stay alive. Almost 8 million have been forced from their homes, sharing crowded rooms with other families or camping in abandoned buildings.  An estimated 4.8 million Syrians inside the country are in places that are hard to reach, including 212,000 trapped in besieged areas. 

Millions of children are suffering from trauma and ill health. A quarter of Syria’s schools have been damaged, destroyed or taken over for shelter. More than half of Syria’s hospitals are destroyed.

Referring to the Syrian refugees who found protection in Armenia, the UNHCR report states that they have benefited from the Government offering a variety of protection options to persons displaced from Syria

In this context the UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Mr. Christoph Bierwirth observed: "UNHCR acknowledges with appreciation that the Government in principle pursues a receptive approach towards persons displaced from Syria and has taken a number of measures offering assistance and promoting integration. However, needs a huge and growing, not least given that more recent arrivals find themselves in extremely destitute situations and that some of the displaced who arrived earlier have use up their resources. It is therefore important that all actors, Government, international organizations, diaspora and faith-based organization and NGOs enhance their efforts and work closely together to mitigate suffering and pave the way for successful integration, allowing the displaced to build a new future for them in Armenia".