Another crisis waiting to happen in Syria:
Severe water shortages compound the misery of millions of humans. The situation inside Syria 12.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. 7.6 million people internally displaced. 5.6 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. 50 % decrease of water availability compared with pre-crisis level. 5 million people in Aleppo, Rural Damascus and Dar’a are left without water when the main supply is cut. 3 000 % increase in water prices in Aleppo.
About UNICEF UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in Syria, leading the emergency response on water and sanitation, education, nutrition and child protection. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Five years into the crisis, Syria is the largest humanitarian and protection crisis in the world. The people of Syria continue to bear the brunt of the conflict that has severely affected all basic social services leaving people deprived of many of their basic human rights. Poor water and sanitation conditions inside Syria is one of the reasons underpinning both internal and external displacement. Severe water shortage. There are multiple factors contributing to water shortages in Syria: • Shut down of electric power systems. • The overburdening of existing systems due to the large number of internally displaced people. • Deliberate cutting of supply by parties to the conflict for political and military gains. In recent months up to five million people living in cities and communities – about half of whom children – across the country have suffered the consequences of long and deliberate interruptions to their water supplies.