UNICEF helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF MENA covers 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, stretching from Morocco to Iran and including Djibouti and Sudan. For more information, visit www.unicef.org/mena
UNICEF continues massive humanitarian operation for Syria’s children
AMMAN, 4 September 2013- Amidst heightened tensions across the region and as the number of Syria’s refugees rises beyond 2 million – half of them children – UNICEF continues to provide urgent life-saving supplies to children inside Syria and in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
“This is one of the largest humanitarian operations that UNICEF has ever undertaken,” said Maria Calivis, UNICEF’s Regional Director of the Middle East and North Africa. “We are working on the ground, round the clock with a wide network of dedicated partners to reach Syrian children across the region.”
Full text of the press release is available here.
Photo caption: As the new school year begins across the region, UNICEF is supporting children’s return to learning, providing school bags, materials and furniture.
It's back to school month for many children across the region - and beyond.
In Syria, we're helping primary school-aged children who have been displaced get ready for school by providing them with up to 1 million school bags containing stationary supplies to be distributed in all 14 governorates.
We hope your school year and theirs is off to a great, safe and successful start!
Critical supplies airlifted to refugee children in Erbil
On Sunday, UNICEF and UPS teamed up to airlift 100 tonnes of critical supplies for about 20,000 Syrian child refugees and their families in Erbil, northern Iraq.
Over the past two weeks, almost 50,000 Syrians fled to Erbil, almost half of them are children. The supplies delivered last night will help meet their need for water, education and protection services.
Rahav spent two nights in a tent by a river before she could enter Iraq. Bashir misses his school and his teachers. Abeer really misses her grandma.
Meet some of the children of Syria who have been through so much and are now learning to be children again. Hear from the people working day and night to help them. Don't miss our latest Children of Syria newsletter.
Last week the world marked a shameful milestone. 1 million child refugees forced to leave Syria.
“I hope to go back to Syria soon,” says Yasmine, one of the 1 million, now living in Za’atari camp in Jordan. “I miss my relatives, my friends and my school too.”
Here is a short video: http://youtu.be/xpG3jLGGkvc
You can also learn more about the #childrenofsyria and how you can help by visiting:
Danny Glover and Edin Dzeko play ball
Although we have been posting alot about the situation in and around Syria and how over one million children have been forced to flee their homes…let us not forget some other children whose situation is just as fragile and…like the children living as refugees…with a little help…can live happy and productive lives.
We are talking about children with disabilites.
If you have a minute…please watch as Danny Glover and Edin Dzeko help raise awareness for vulnerable children - the goal…ensuring social inclusion for all children.
According to Mr. Glover, “Children with disabilities and their communities both benefit if we all focus on what these children can achieve, rather than what they cannot.”
We couldn’t agree with you more Danny!!!
Infact…so much so that this year’s State of the World’s Children report (our “flagship publication) we focused solely on children with disabilities - check out: http://www.unicef.org/sowc2013/
Also…read more about Danny’s and Edin’s visit here: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/bosniaherzegovina_70233.html
ERBIL, Iraq, 26 August 2013 – Rahav picks up my blue UNICEF cap and gently fans me as the discomfort of the scorching heat becomes evident. The gesture is touching considering the long and tiring journey the 15-year-old had to take with her extended family of 26 to seek refuge from her war-torn country. They had just been allocated a tent in the temporary Kawergosk camp near Erbil, in northern Iraq.
Read the full story here.
Photo caption: Rahav and her family arrived in Erbil after two nights camping by the Tigris river waiting for the borders with northern Iraq to open. Around 42,000 Syrians crossed into Iraq in one week
Reports of use of chemical weapons in Syria deeply disturbing
NEW YORK, 21 August 2013 – “The reports of attacks on civilians, presumably including children, on the outskirts of Damascus are deeply disturbing.
“Such horrific acts should be a reminder to all the parties and all who have influence on them that this terrible conflict has gone on far too long and children have suffered more than enough.
“Children must be protected, and those who fail to protect them will be held accountable.”
For children of Syria affected by the Syria conflict, the emotional toll of violence and displacement is something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
Offering them a chance to cope is a key step towards putting them on the path to recovery.
Playing, drawing, learning and interacting with other children in a safe space – these are some of the ways that children who have experienced traumatic events can begin to heal.
UNICEF has set up child-friendly spaces for children affected by the Syria crisis, both inside the country and in the neighbouring countries where they now live as refugees. These spaces are providing children with safe areas where they can have a respite from their new, harsh realities, and learn how to be children again.
One such space just opened in Saricam camp in Adana, southern Turkey. It is part of a EU-financed programme to support children of Syria in Turkey.
And for our Arabic-speaking followers, watch as Liam Neeson lends his voice to UNICEF's efforts to end violence against children. Join us. Speak up. #EndViolence
Egypt: Use of children for political ends is unacceptable
Statement by Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, on protection of children during the current events
Cairo, 30 July 2013 - UNICEF is deeply concerned by reports that children have been killed or injured during the violent confrontations in Egypt over recent days.
Disturbing images of children taken during street protests indicate that, on some occasions, children have been deliberately used and put at risk as potential witnesses to or victims of violence.
Such actions can have a long-lasting and devastating physical and psychological impact on children.
We call on all Egyptians and political groups not to exploit children for political ends, and to protect them from any potential harm.
The families and children of Syria who first arrived to Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan last year, did not think for a moment that a year later, they will still be here. Get a glimpse of what daily life is like in the second largest refugee camp in the world.
When Omar* arrived with his wife and 8 children at Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp they thought it would be for a few months. They are still there 12-months later.
“I never imagined we would still be here. Right behind my house was the border of the camp, past that was the desert,” said Omar. “Now I can walk for an hour to get to the end of the camp,” he added.
Za’atari is home to some 120,000 Syrians and covers an area of approximately 9 square kilometers.
Omar’s tent is now a caravan. Throughout the year many of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) supplied tents have been replaced by caravans.
"It provides better protection," says Omar. He remembers arriving 12-months ago to tents being blown 30-metres into the air by severe gusts of wind. Jordan’s northern desert is seriously exposed to the elements.
Omar has since created a mini compound with his old tent and caravan. In the middle, he proudly shows off the cemented ‘yard’.
But his biggest concerns are his children. “They feel very bored and have almost nothing,” he said. Two of his children attend one of the UNICEF-supported schools in the camp. While it helps to provide some sense of normalcy to their lives, Omar says that the camp’s tough living conditions make it hard for them to concentrate.
“In Syria they used to have a good life they were not as tired as here, so they were prepared to take in information,” he said.
The hot summer weather makes learning conditions even tougher.
Omar also remembers the bitter winter months with a sense of fear. “It was so rough. They distributed these gas heaters but it was so cold, the gas they gave us was not enough,” he said.
Another serious concern is the lack of work. Living in tent number one brings with it some benefits. He is located just off the main market road from where the camp grew. It’s nicknamed the ‘Champs Elysees’.
“It’s a good place to make a shop. I don’t work in it. I give it to someone to work in and pay him a salary,” said Omar. He sells some basic food products. With the 50 to 60 Jordanian dinars (US$70 to 85) he makes a month, he buys vegetables.
One year on and Omar still dreams of his one hope. “Don’t look at life here as permanent, we don’t want it here. The only thing I need is help to go back to Syria,” he said.
*Name has been changed
Photo caption: Za'atari is now home to more than 120,000 people.
