America’s military, economic, and political might can be seen in the ongoing crisis in Syria. The civil war has created a situation where millions of people have been displaced and many face starvation. As a humanitarian organization, UNICEF has been working tirelessly in Syria to help improve the lives of children and women. This blog will discuss how UNICEF’s work has been helping children in the region and ways you can help the cause.
Who is UNICEF?
The United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, aims to create a better future for all children, everywhere, every day. More children receive clean water, therapeutic food, life-saving immunizations, education, and protection from violence from UNICEF than from any other humanitarian organization. UNICEF collaborates with families, local communities, institutions, and governments in over 190 countries to help every child reach their full potential. They prioritize helping the children who are most in need and at risk.
An international child rights organization founded by the UN, UNICEF has 70 years of experience in the field, a global network, a passion for innovation, and a dedication to making every dollar matter. UNICEF is always impartial and apolitical when it comes to defending children’s rights and preserving their present and future.
UNICEF operates in some of the most difficult environments on earth, helping those who are most isolated from assistance, least advantaged, and most vulnerable. With vaccinations, access to clean water, and therapeutic food, UNICEF saves children’s lives. Children are shielded by UNICEF from abuse, exploitation, and violence. And UNICEF supports children’s potential by promoting high-quality training and education. UNICEF works for every child in order to create a better world for all.
Background of Syrian crisis ?
The Syrian Civil War has been ongoing since 2011 and has resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 people and the displacement of over 12 million people within the country and across its borders according to the reports of UNREFUGEES. One of the worst atrocities of the Syrian Civil War was the Ghouta chemical attack in 2013, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people. Syria has been a major source of refugees since the onset of the civil war, with countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey hosting millions of refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that there were over 4 million registered Syrian refugees in 2016.
What are the rights of children ?
Children have the same rights as adults, but they also have additional rights. Rights are the protections that are granted to children by law. The rights of children should be respected by all adults, including the parents, the teachers, and the government. The rights of children have been specified in various laws. These laws also lay down the procedures on how these rights should be protected. The children have a right to live, to have shelter, to have good health, to be educated. Children have a right to protection from abuse or neglect. Most of these rights are provided by the parents. The children are entitled to the basic necessities of life, like food, clothing, and shelter. The child has a right to be protected from all kinds of abuse or neglect. The child has a right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation. The child has a right to be protected from trafficking, forced labor, and all forms of slavery. The child has a right to be protected from the exploitation of pornography.
How is UNICEF protecting the rights of children in Syria? What are the challenges?
UNICEF is committed to reaching all children in Syria, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, with life-saving assistance, protection and education. To help keep children safe, UNICEF and partners have established more than 800 child-friendly spaces in seven governorates across Syria, offering children a place to play and socialize, learn, and receive psychosocial support. These spaces are run by trained volunteers in community buildings, such as schools, mosques, and churches, and offer children a place to play, socialize, and receive psychosocial support. They also provide children with opportunities to meet and engage with educational and protection services. Children with disabilities are also included, with access to play, education and psychosocial support. UNICEF and partners also provide children with lifesaving supplies, such as blankets and baby formula, and children are provided with access to safe drinking water, as well as clean toilets and washing facilities.
Life survival support , an important right for the children ?
Syria is in the middle of a civil war, with fighting between government forces and rebel groups. There are many innocent people caught in the middle, including children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working inside Syria, giving food and water to children, and providing shelter and clothing to families. UNICEF is also working to help keep children healthy and safe. UNICEF is one of the few agencies allowed to work inside Syria. However, it is very difficult for it to operate there. UNICEF tries to help children and families in Syria every way it can. It provides them with food and clean water. It helps them get medical care. It gives them shelter and clothing. It also helps with the education of children. Many of the schools in Syria have been damaged by the fighting. UNICEF is trying to get these schools repaired and back in operation.
Providing health care facilities : UNICEF a Crucial role ?
A framework for bettering children’s lives globally is provided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It offers a distinctive and kid-centered approach to pediatric issues and encompasses both private child health practice and public health. Most child health issues are covered by the Convention, and its articles are divided into three categories: participation, provision, and protection.
Every child has the right to prompt access to quality medical care. This necessitates the creation of a system to safeguard the public’s health, including providing access to necessary medications. Realizing the right to health requires that every nation would set up healthcare services that are available in any situation, open to everyone, pleasant, as well as of high quality. UNICEF is providing health care facilities.
A national immunization campaign backed by WHO and UNICEF has come to an end in Syria with the goal of maintaining essential regular immunization services in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 900 000 children had their vaccination status verified during the 5-day campaign, which was carried out by the Syrian Ministry of Health, and more than 210 100 children received vaccinations to ensure they are up to date with the recommended schedule. More than 8000 health professionals, over 1000 clinics, 545 mobile teams, and 666 temporary immunization sites were organized for the campaign. According to WHO global standards, health workers received training on preventative and precautionary measures, such as disinfection, hygiene standards, and overcrowding prevention. They were also provided with personal protective equipment to safeguard their safety throughout the immunization campaign as well as the safety of the kids and caretakers.
According to Fran Equiza, UNICEF representative in Syria, “These are difficult times, parents may feel overwhelmed with worry,” so it is more important than ever that children receive their immunizations. Our advice to them is unambiguous: ensure that your children obtain their regular vaccines to prevent diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. There will be more outbreaks, especially those of deadly illnesses like measles and polio, as vaccination rates decline.
Promotion of education
The purpose of UNICEF is to mobilize more people who care about the welfare of children. According to UNICEF, education amid a war should go beyond simply achieving academic goals. The delivery of education should provide kids with a secure environment, a way to maintain a feeling of normalcy, psychosocial support, safety from danger, and access to other essential services. UNICEF has strengthened its leadership and engagement with the Ministry of Education and the education-sector partners in Syria in response to the country’s educational needs. The crisis education programs offered by UNICEF are conceived, organized, and carried out in accordance with important strategic frame works .More than 875,000 primary-level Syrian conflict-affected children have previously received quality education from EAC and UNICEF through two independent projects.
The three-year project intervention Improving Access to Education for OOSC through the Self-Learning Programme (SLP) aims to reach an additional 95,000 OOSC. As a response to the education requirements of children with little or no access to schooling as a result of the conflict, UNICEF, UNRWA, and the Syrian Ministry of Education (MOE) together developed the SLP and accompanying curricular materials. The self-study tools allow students to take government exams and are in line with Syria’s national curriculum. The project seeks to offer a thorough self-study course in a secure learning environment within the context of Syria’s conflict scenario through psychosocial support, the provision of learning materials, teacher training, and classroom rehabilitation/construction.
Conclusion
It is impossible to tell the complete story of the crisis in Syria in a single article. The conflict has been ongoing since 2011, and it is having a devastating effect on millions of people. However, it’s not all bad news. Despite the many setbacks, UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations are helping families as best they can. They are providing food, access to clean water, and medical care, as well as more difficult tasks like providing psychological support for children who have been traumatized by the horrors of war.
As I am really excited to visit UNICEF office and to learn more how the organization works.
Questions to UNICEF?
- How UNICEF is ensuring the well bring of the staff during this crisis situation?
- How the UNICEF is coordinating with other NGOs amid of these crisis?
Blog by
Abhinav Jose
3088125