Mena children of syria newsletter 12 september 2013 en by UNICEF MENA

12 September 2013

Children of Syria

A UNICEF update

Displaced from her home in Homs, Amanda enjoys art and sport activities

Amanda, 7, pins up her picture with others created by children at a UNICEF-supported centre in Syria.

By David Youngmeyer TARTUS, Syria – Amanda, 7, eats popcorn from a paper cone as she takes a break from an activities programme for displaced children in eastern Tartous governorate. With its rolling hills, terraces and olive trees, the area is reminiscent of Italy. It is a world away from the conflict in Homs that Amanda and her family fled two years ago. Around 4,000 displaced families are believed to be living in this part of Tartous, with most living in the host community. Amanda lives with her parents and older sister in a rented house. Other relatives moved here too to escape the violence. www.unicef.org/mena

Last year Amanda attended first grade and is looking forward to the new school year which starts on September 15. “I like going to school,” she says, although she misses her friends from Homs and her old house. It meant a lot to her when a visiting uncle brought the swing that she used to play on back in Homs. Amanda and her sister attend a centre in Mashta al Helo run by one of UNICEF’s faith-based partners Aniss Saade. They take part in art and sport activities, along with awareness-raising sessions on topics such as hygiene, street safety and social behaviour. The activities help to reduce children’s stress, while a psycho-social specialist

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is available to talk to children as necessary. The centre also provides remedial education, including classes in Arabic, English, French and Maths. The children at the centre have recently finished a painting activity, with their artworks pegged up on lines, creating a cacophony of colour. Amanda’s own painting is an upbeat work featuring a heart, flowers, a bird, and a sun set against a blue sky. “I like to paint and draw,” she says. “I like playing with the other children too.” The activities programme is run through the centre and three mobile teams, with plans to reach up to 2,000 displaced children across 52 villages.

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Children of Syria

12 September 2013

Faces of the children of Syria A girl displays a cartoon drawing that she has coloured during a UNICEF-supported hygiene promotion session, at a shelter for displaced people, in the rural town of Hassayia, near the conflict-

affected city of Homs.

A new resident at Kawergosk camp in Erbil, northern Iraq, receives a measles jab.

Malala to Syrian girls in Lebanon: I totally support you Education

campaigner

Malala

Yousafzai arranged to speak via Skype to 15 year-old Zahra and her cousin Om Kolthoum, who were forced from their home in Aleppo, and have been in Lebanon for a year. “I totally support you. You are very brave. I believe that you will get your education, that you will go to school – and that no one can stop you. One day you will be my doctor and I will be your patient.” Zahra and Om Kolthoum could not attend school for more than six

up classes run by local organisations

Getting children back to learning

months and are now attending catch-

supported by UNICEF.

protects them and gives them hope.

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Children of Syria

12 September 2013

Preparing for a return to learning in Za’atari refugee camp, Jordan ZA’ATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan – A group of young girls are striding out of the school gates with a purpose. The new school year is starting and they’re on a mission to get their peers back to school. Mozoun is one of thirty 12 to 15-year olds who are crossing the refugee camp, home to some 120,000 Syrians, to promote education to children and their parents. The 14-year old comes across a mother and her children hanging up washing outside their caravan. She has so much energy that her words can’t come out quickly enough. She’s determined to pass on her message. “I love education and I’m aware of its importance. People must tell others about good things that they know and not keep them for themselves,” she said. Mozoun describes herself as an ambassador of education in the

Refugees by numbers* Lebanon

730,000

Jordan

520,000

Turkey

464,000

Iraq

180,000

Egypt

117,000

North Africa 14,000 Total

2,030,000

(UNICEF estimates that 50% of these refugees are children.) - Figures have been rounded *UNHCR registered refugees and individuals awaiting registration as of 12 September 2013

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camp. “I’m so happy because I have already taken a step forward in helping students to get back to school,” she said. Support from prominent figures With around 30,000 children of school-going age in Za’atari, there’s ground to cover. So the camp’s religious figures have joined the team. At a tented mosque, Abu Omar, one of the camp’s Imams, spreads the word about the value of education. His Friday sermon is delivered with passion, “I should remind you of something,” he tells the 100 strong crowd. “Through education, you can reach your highest goals,” he proclaims. In times of crisis, attending school provides safety and respite. Places of learning provide some degree of normality to children’s lives and hope for the future. “Children are the ones who will build the community in Syria. They are the core of civilization. That’s why we care about their education,” said Abu Omar. Targeting out-of-school children While getting children to enroll for the new term is critical, keeping them there is equally important. During the last school term, attendance rates dropped for a number of reasons. This included concerns over security when walking to school, particularly for girls. Some children, such as 11-year old Duha, have to walk more than 2kms to reach the nearest school. To put parents’ minds at ease assembly points were set up for children to meet and walk to school as a group alongside a teacher.

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By Toby Fricker

Mozoun talks to a mother in Za’atari refugee camp.

“They go to school and get back without any problems. I feel comfortable now, which gives me the chance to do something else,” said Duha’s father, Mustafa. Others simply may not prioritize education during such difficult times. “When we came to Za’atari we forgot all about school because of the situation. Our main goal was just to follow up on news and what is happening in Syria at the moment,” said Abu Raed, a father of seven. Mozoun and her peers visited Abu Raed’s caravan and their words had a direct impact. “When the campaign came to us it reminded us to get our children to school. First we keep them off the streets. Second they go to school, learn and get certificates,” he said. Abu Raed’s son, Mohamed, is one of 15,000 children who have now registered at the three schools in Za’atari. He’s looking forward to the new term, “When my father registered me at the school I was very happy because I will not be on the street anymore.” UNICEF supports the campaign for a return to learning in partnership with Save the Children Jordan.

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12 September 2013

New donation brings EU humanitarian aid for Syrian child refugees through UNICEF to nearly €16 million

The new donation will bring to nearly €16 million ECHO’s contribution to UNICEF’s programmes in response to the Syria crisis. Overall, the European Commission, with its development and humanitarian arms, is UNICEF’s third largest donor to this emergency, contributing some €40 million. “We are profoundly grateful that ECHO has once again renewed its commitment to the children of Syria as their needs continue to increase both inside the country and out,” says Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “This generous contribution will allow us to continue

Briefs Jordan Two new UNCEF-supported child and adolescent friendly spaces opened in Zaatari, bringing the total number of similar spaces to 48 in the camp, in addition to 23 other centres in the host communities. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 80,000 children have received emotional support in similar centres and in learning environments.

to provide water – which is just as critical as food – and support to children to overcome their trauma.” The new funds will help provide 2.7 million people – children and their families – with access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene services. They will also support child protection programmes that will benefit separated and unaccompanied children and will allow vulnerable children to recover from the psychological impact of the conflict. “The EU as a whole, with the European Commission and its Member States’ bilateral assistance, is the largest donor in the response to the Syrian crisis with a contribution of over €1.3 billion through partners like UNICEF. It is crucial that these partners have safe access to the millions of people in need inside Syria, and that civilians are granted safe passage within Syria and across its borders,” stresses Iraq Between August 25 and September 5, 300 tonnes of supplies arrived via plane and truck from Denmark, Baghdad and Turkey to provide services and supplies to the increasing numbers of refugees flowing to northern Iraq. Turkey Work is under way for the building of three pre-fabricated schools in camps. A 12-classroom school in Yayladagi is close to completion, a 24-classroom school in Islahiye is now operational and the ground has been laid for a school in Viransehir. The three

For more information:

Juliette Touma UNICEF Middle East and North Africa

jtouma@unicef.org menaro@unicef.org

Amman/ Damascus/ Brussels – UNICEF welcomed recently an announcement by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) of a new, €5 million donation that will benefit Syrian children in Iraq, Jordan and Syria.

Children use a collective sanitation facility at Za’atari refugee camp. The new ECHO funds will help increase access to safe water and sanitation for Syrian refugee children and their families.

Marilena Chatziantoniou, the Head of ECHO’s Syria Office. In June this year, UNICEF announced that it needs more than $470 million for its programmes for Syrian children in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt during the course of this year. These needs remain nearly 40 per cent unmet. schools will be able to accommodate more than 2,000 students. Syria During a recent inter-agency mission to Deraa City, a UNICEF team visited health facilities and school clubs. The team also met with local authorities and community members to identify needs in the area. Lebanon A summer education programme is under way for about 20,000 children attending catch-up classes in preparation for the upcoming school year. www.unicef.org/mena childrenofsyria.info www.twitter.com/unicefmena www.facebook.com/unicefmena