Syrian Border Violence Threatens Displaced Children

Escalating Syrian Border Violence Threatens Displaced Children – Save The Children

11 April 2012

Escalating violence in Syria, including cross-border fire into a refugee camp in Turkey, raises urgent concerns for the safety of children fleeing the conflict, said Save the Children. The number of refugees arriving in Turkey and Lebanon has risen sharply in the past week, as violence continues and hopes for a ceasefire remain uncertain.

In the past two days, five people in a Turkish refugee camp have been wounded by gunfire coming from Syria, while a Lebanese cameraman was shot on the border. This raises grave concerns for families and children fleeing the conflict for the safety of neighbouring countries.

”Children are being killed and wounded as violence continues in Syria, with many more witnessing scenes no child should ever see, ” said Save the Children New Zealand CEO Liz Gibbs.

”Save the Children is assisting children in Lebanon who are deeply scarred by what they have been through. Given the increasing uncertainty over how the situation in Syria will develop, it is essential that those children seeking refuge in neighbouring countries are safe from the violence. Free and open humanitarian access must be prioritised at all costs.”

Save the Children New Zealand will give approximately $60,000 to help Syrian children caught up in the country’s crisis.

“By donating to our Children’s Emergency Fund, New Zealanders can help us position vital resources ready for humanitarian access to Syria and support the children and families there and in neighbouring countries,” said Ms Gibbs.
Save the Children is helping Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and Jordan. Over the next six months Save the Children will help hundreds of the most vulnerable children come to terms with what they have witnessed by setting up child-friendly spaces where children feel safe and can play.
Specially trained social workers are visiting vulnerable families, distributing urgently needed food for pregnant and new mothers, as well as medicines and clothing for children and babies. The organisation is also working to raise awareness amongst children of the dangers of unexploded mines along the borders.

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Notes

Statistics
• The UN says more than 8,000 people have been killed in Syria to date.
• The UNHCR says 12,600 Syrians have fled to Lebanon, 53% of them being children under the age of 18 years.

Save the Children’s Response
Lebanon: Save the Children member countries are together appealing for US$ 4.3 million Through the Save the Children Humanitarian Response to Syrian Children in North and East Lebanon. Save the Children intends to reach through different activities:
• 23,744 children
• 16,450 adults.

For six months until 15 September 2012 Save the Children intends to provide immediate relief to children and adults from the following geographical areas:
• North Lebanon: Akkar area and Tripoli
• East Lebanon: Bekaa area (targeted communities: Baalbeck, Arsal, Qaa, Fakha, Brital, Kamed el Lawz and Ayn).

Jordan: Syrians continue to cross the border both legally and illegally in Jordan. The Government of Jordan has kept the border open. Save the Children continues to provide activities to provide humanitarian services to the affected Syrian population as well as the local communities in Mafraq.

Read more about the response here: http://www.savethechildren.org.nz/

Spokespeople available in Lebanon
Save the Children International CEO Jasmine Whitbread will be visiting Syrian refugee camps in North Lebanon today and meeting some of the Syrian children Save the Children is helping. Her twitter handle is: @JasmineatSC

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ENDS

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