As Syria’s children step out of the shadows of war, securing their future is more critical than ever – UNICEF

NEW YORK/DAMASCUS, 25 March 2025 – As families in Syria adjust to a new era in the country’s history following 14 years of brutal conflict, UNICEF calls for urgent support to ensure children have a safe and prosperous path ahead.

More than 75 per cent of Syria's 10.5 million children are estimated to have been born during the 14-year civil war, with their entire childhood set against a backdrop of displacement, violence, and devastation.

“Years of war and violence have shattered the lives of Syria’s children, with many enduring a lifetime of hardship,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. “We need to work urgently to ensure that every child in the country, wherever they are, can reclaim a childhood, access to learning, and a life free from violence and fear.”

A recent surge in violence around Syria’s coastal areas this month reportedly claimed the lives of at least 13 children, including a six-month-old baby, while causing additional civilian casualties and injuries. Thousands of families were displaced during the attacks, and critical infrastructure was damaged.

The overall humanitarian situation remains dire for children across Syria, with nine in ten people living below the poverty line and many families forced to resort to desperate measures to cope, including child labour, and early marriage for young girls.

In addition:

• At least 5 million children remain at risk from explosive remnants of war, with nearly 300,000 deadly devices scattered across the country.
• More than 40 per cent of the nearly 20,000 schools in the country remain closed, leaving over 2.4 million children out of classrooms and over one million at risk of dropping out.
• More than 500,000 children under five are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition, while 2 million more on the verge of becoming malnourished.
• Operational capacity to provide clean water across the country’s 14 Governorates is below 50 per cent, dropping to 23 per cent at times when no electricity is available. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of all sewage is dumped untreated into the environment, creating a hazardous combination for children.

As world leaders gathered in Brussels last week for the Standing with Syria Conference, UNICEF called for a child-focused approach to Syria’s recovery and reconstruction. The rights and well-being of children must be central to political, social, and economic rebuilding efforts. This includes:

• Immediate protection of children and essential services, including schools, hospitals and water infrastructure.
• Investment in education, ensuring that every child has access to safe, inclusive and quality learning.
• Wider humanitarian access to deliver lifesaving support to children in need.
• Sustained international support towards an inclusive recovery and rebuilding of essential systems - from healthcare to water and sanitation – to stabilize the fragile situation.

“This is a moment of hope and of great responsibility,” said Russell. “Now is the time to act decisively to rebuild, protect, and invest in the future of every child, in every community across the country.”

UNICEF remains committed to working with partners to support systematic reform, institutional development, and scalable and sustainable social services towards recovery and reconstruction. Simultaneously, delivering urgent humanitarian assistance to ensure that no child is left behind. 

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