Entire Generation of Syrian Kids Could Be Doomed: UN

After 2 years of fighting, millions of children in serious need, says report
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 12, 2013 8:48 AM CDT
Entire Generation of Syrian Kids Could Be Doomed: UN
In this Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 photo, two Syrian refugee children sit outside their family tent, at Atmeh refugee camp, in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, Syria.   (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

March brings the start of the third year of the Syria conflict, and UNICEF is seeing doom for the country's children. A rep for the children's aid organization warns that "the risk of a lost generation grows every hour, every day, and every month," and backs that up with specifics in a new report:

  • Some 20% of the country's schools have been ruined.
  • Nearly 2 million Syrians in serious need of help are under 18, and 536,000 are younger than 5.
  • The country's refugees stand at 1 million, and more than half are kids.

And UNICEF explains the risks of such an upbringing: the possibility of "creating a generation of children who have seen, or know, only fighting, and may well end up perpetuating that cycle of violence." The agency says it needs $195 million to fund vital aid through the end of June, but has so far received only 20% of that amount, reports the AFP. "The funding has been extremely disappointing on Syria compared to other emergencies," says the rep. (More UNICEF stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X