The number of Syrian children forced to flee their homeland as refugees has reached one million, as the Syrian conflict continues well into its third year.

The latest report released by UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says children make up half of all refugees from the country’s conflict. Most have arrived in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, though increasingly, Syrians are fleeing to North Africa and Europe.

Latest figures also show that some 740,000 Syrian child refugees are under the age of 11. Inside Syria, the High Commissioner for Human Rights says some seven thousand children have been killed during the conflict.

The UNHCR and UNICEF also estimate that more than 2 million children have been internally displaced within Syria. The physical upheaval, fear, stress and trauma experienced by so many children account for just part of the human crisis.

Both agencies also highlight the threats to refugee children from child labour, early marriage and the potential for sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)