Refugee Children: What Life Looks Like for a Child Forced to Flee
No child chooses to become a refugee. No child chooses to leave behind their home, friends or the life they once knew
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- العربية
No child chooses to become a refugee. No child chooses to leave behind their home, friends or the life they once knew.
Every day, millions of children are forced to flee conflict, violence and crises, carrying burdens far too heavy for their young shoulders. Far from home, many refugee children struggle to access basic necessities such as safe shelter, healthcare and education. They often face uncertainty, loss and the challenge of rebuilding their lives in unfamiliar places.
But they are not alone! With the support of generous donors and partners, UNICEF teams work to help refugee children survive and thrive, ensuring they have access to education, protection services, healthcare and safe spaces where they can be children again.
Mohammad and His Precious Goal
At just 13 years old, Mohammad has spent almost his entire life in Jordan’s Za’atari Camp after his family was forced to flee their home. Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, Mohammad refuses to let his surroundings define his future.
At his local UNICEF-supported Makani centre, he has found a place filled with opportunity, friendship and hope. Here, he catches up on his studies, performs confidently on stage and spends countless hours doing what he loves most, playing football. Every kick of the ball brings him one step closer to his ultimate goal of becoming a professional football player.
With the support of UNICEF, Mohammad is building the confidence and skills he needs to create a brighter future for himself.
Farah and Marah: Holding on to Happiness and Joy
Happiness and joy: that is what Farah’s and Marah’s names mean in Arabic. Their family risked everything to protect both, fleeing to Egypt with nothing but each other.
Like many refugee children, the sisters left behind their home, their education, and the childhood every child deserves. Their future became uncertain overnight. Their grandmother Maysaa says: “They have already seen more than any child ever should. I just want them to have the childhood they are owed.”
Theirs is one story among millions across the region, children whose classrooms went quiet and whose lives were upended yet somehow keep reaching for hope. Through UNICEF-supported programmes in Egypt, Farah and Marah found learning spaces, counselling and child-friendly corners built just for them.
Supporting Millions of Refugee Children Across the Middle East and North Africa Region
Millions of refugee children in the MENA region continue to require humanitarian support after being displaced by conflict, violence, economic hardship, or climate-related crises. Whether they are living in camps, urban communities or temporary shelters, many children remain at risk of missing out on education, healthcare, protection and opportunities that are essential for their development and well-being.
UNICEF continues to support refugee children and vulnerable families by providing access to quality education and skills development, essential health and nutrition services, mental health and psychosocial support, child protection services, safe water and sanitation, cash assistance and more.
With your support, these children and their families can recover, rebuild and continue dreaming of a brighter future.
FAQs
Questons and answers
By the end of 2025, nearly 45 million children had been forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence and crises worldwide. Children represent almost 38% of the world's forcibly displaced population, showing how emergencies affect young lives.
A refugee child is a child who has been forced to flee their home and cross an international border to seek safety. An internally displaced child has also been forced to flee but remains within their own country. Both groups often face significant protection and humanitarian challenges.
Refugee children face numerous risks, including family separation, violence, exploitation, trafficking, interrupted education, lack of healthcare and disease outbreaks. Many also experience trauma, mental health challenges and uncertainty about their future.
Many of today's refugee and displaced children have been uprooted by conflicts and crises in countries such as Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, where ongoing violence and instability continue to force millions of families to flee their homes.
UNICEF works with partners to provide refugee and displaced children with safe spaces, education, clean water, healthcare, nutrition support, mental health and psychosocial services, child protection programmes and family reunification assistance. UNICEF also supports host communities and helps children regain a sense of safety and normalcy.
You can help refugee children by donating to UNICEF's emergency and refugee response programmes, raising awareness and advocating for children’s rights. Your support can help provide life-saving assistance, education and protection to children forced to flee their homes. Donate today to help refugee children survive, recover and build brighter futures.