Syria 12

Twelve years of conflict has had a staggering impact on the children of Syria: 

Twelve years of conflict, and the recent deadly earthquakes, have left millions of children in Syria at heightened risk of malnutrition, UNICEF warned today.

As the conflict in Syria enters its 13^th year on 15 March, hostilities continue unabated in several parts of the country, particularly in the northwest. Grave violations of children’s rights persist. Since the beginning of the conflict, close to 13,000 children in Syria have been killed or injured, according to UN data. Children continue to live in fear of attacks, displacement and malnutrition levels are on the rise.

According to estimates, more than 609,900 children, under the age of five, are stunted in Syria. Stunting results from chronic undernutrition and causes irreversible physical and mental damage to children. This impacts their capacity to learn, their productivity and earnings later in adulthood.

Acute malnutrition among children is also on the rise. The number of 6-59-month-old children suffering from severe acute malnutrition increased by 48 per cent from 2021 to 2022. When children suffer from acute malnutrition, their immune system weakens, and they are eleven times more likely to die than well-nourished children.