Today 1 in 6 children live in conflict zones around the world. This March, marks grim anniversaries in two affected regions: children in Syria have been living through war for 11 years and children in Yemen have been experiencing the hostilities for seven years.
The ongoing conflict in these countries is not just another news story. It is the story of the many children experiencing the impact of war and violence, and with no end in sight. Often, with conflict comes hunger, poverty, danger, no healthcare, loss of education and fear –all intensified by the effects of the pandemic.
“Syrian and Yemeni children deserve to have the future they dream about,” Roula Kikhia, Humanitarian Advisor for Save the Children Canada said. Currently in Yemen, 24.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 50% of those being children. The figures in Syria are just as alarming: 13.4 million people are seeking humanitarian assistance and 6.2 million of them are children. “We get used to seeing the numbers, but when we think about how large these numbers are… the impact is huge. When we compare the numbers to a smaller European country like Switzerland, with roughly 8 million people, we can really understand how many children are in need in Syria and Yemen,” Roula said.
The beautiful thing about children is that they have so much love and hope for a better future. Despite the hardships they may face, they are resilient, which is inspiring to all of us.
12-year-old Hiba* and her family have lived in a displacement camp in Syria since their home was destroyed by airstrikes six years ago. When heavy rainfall and a winter storm damaged parts of the tent, letting in rain and harsh cold air, Hiba used the sewing skills she learned from her mother to fix the family tent. She also helped fixed neighbouring tents in need of repair.
Hiba* is 12 years old and lives with her family in a displacement camp in Syria. They came to the camp after their home was damaged in an airstrike six years ago. There are seven people living in her tent, including her parents and siblings. Hiba describes the tent as her home and loves it when all her family are there with her. Recently however, heavy rain and winter storms have taken their toll on the tent, which means the family are exposed to the elements and the bad flooding. Hiba is resilient and a talented sewer, having learned the skill from her mother. She takes pride in patching the tent together. She also helps her neighbours when she sees their shelters also need repairing. She does this work because she loves to sew and when she’s not patching the weather-beaten tent, she spends time making clothes for her doll. Hiba also loves school, but recently the education facility in the camp was destroyed in a storm. While she waits for her school to be rebuilt, Hiba tries to keep up with her learning by reading and writing.
Like Hiba, Samah* is 12 years old and lives in a displacement camp in Syria. Due to conflict, Samah and her family fled their village. Because of this, she had to drop out of school. She began going to school in the displacement camp, but a winter storm destroyed the building at the end of 2021. Her desire to learn was strong, and she has kept up with her reading and learning despite having no school to attend. Now, with the support of her family, Samah reads whenever she can.
Samah* is 12 and lives in a displacement camp in Syria with her family. The family were forced to flee their village because of conflict and Samah had to drop out of school. She began going to school in the displacement camp but is only in the second grade because of the delays she faced in her learning. In December 2021, a big storm hit and destroyed the school in the camp, so Samah is again unable to pursue her education. Samah said the noise of the collapse was so loud, she thought it was an aeroplane. Samah is now learning as much as she can at home and receiving help from her parents and older siblings with her reading.
16-year-old Ahmed* from Yemen lost his legs, left arm and left eye when his neighbourhood was hit by shelling in 2017. During the attack, he was with his uncle, who unfortunately died. Ahmed experienced immense trauma that no child should have to face. He received psychological support, along with medication and essential items. In addition, he received help to ensure he could continue school. His resilience has allowed him to remain in good spirits despite his injuries and the violence he witnessed.
Ahmed* (16) lives in Taiz, Yemen with his mother, brother and three sisters. His father passed away in 2013 after fights erupted between two villages over a water well in Taiz. In June 2017, Ahmed*s uncle was fetching water from the neighbourhood’s water tank and Ahmed* was helping his fill the jerrycans when suddenly the surrounding area was hit by shelling. Ahmed* and his uncle were also hit, his uncle died on the spot and Ahmed* was taken to the hospital. Ahmed* lost both his legs, his left hand and the sight in his left eye. Another organisation helped Ahmed* travel abroad to get medical treatment. After Ahmed* returned to Yemen, Save the Children provided him with psychological support, helped with his medication costs, provided some essential items to his family and helped him continue his education. Despite Ahmed*s disability, he’s in good spirits and has his friends and his community’s support.
So many children like Hiba, Samha, and Ahmed live on the frontline of an unprecedented global humanitarian crisis. Their right to survival, protection and education is under immediate threat. Their rights matter. Their dreams matter. Their stories matter. They must be protected, supported, and removed from a lifetime of war.
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