Summer Heat adds to Perils Facing Children of Syria

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release
Wednesday 26  June, 2013

Summer Heat adds to Perils Facing Children of Syria

Although we are in the middle of winter in New Zealand, soaring summer temperatures, overcrowding and worsening hygiene are the latest threats facing some 4 million children affected by the on-going conflict in Syria, UNICEF NZ said today.

Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director at UNICEF NZ, said “As we battle through harsh winter weather here in New Zealand, Syrian children and their families are struggling with other extremes. Syrian children who have fled the horrendous conflict in their homeland to the safety of neighbouring countries are now facing new challenges.

“Almost half the total number of Syrian refugees are children, with each one of them needing clean water, and sanitation and healthcare. These basic services and facilities are needed both in Syria, where infrastructure is breaking down as a result of on-going conflict, and for Syria refugees in camps and host communities.

“Our main focus right now is to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as diarrhoea. A lack of safe water and sanitation combined with mid 40°C temperatures, means that the incidence of diarrhoea and other diseases are certain to increase.”

In Syria, the availability of safe water is one third what it was before the crisis. Of the more than 4.25 million displaced Syrians, many live in overcrowded shelters with insufficient access to toilets and showers. Sewage systems are damaged or overwhelmed by the increase in displaced populations.

In refugee camps like Domiz in Iraq – expanded to accommodate around 25,000 people but now hosting almost twice that number – conditions are just as severe. And in Jordan’s Za’atari camp, aid agencies are struggling to meet the needs of what is now the world’s second biggest refugee camp, housing at least 120,000 people.

In Lebanon, more than half a million refugees are scattered in host communities and in informal tented settlements, placing increased pressure on existing water and sanitation services. Multiple families often share small apartments or live in makeshift settlements that lack access to safe water, basic toilets and waste collection. Women and children often have to walk long distances to collect water that in many cases may be unfit for drinking. 

New Zealander Luciano Calestini, Head of UNICEF’s emergency response in Lebanon, says, "In a country with the same population as New Zealand, there are now believed to be more than one million Syrians present, and thousands of new arrivals cross the border into Lebanon every day. This is putting intense social and economic pressure on the country.

"More than half of these refugees are children, and far too many are living in precarious conditions, vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. More and more are being deprived of an education. Living in conditions without access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, coupled with poor nutrition, exposes children to disease. We are at risk of losing a generation of children.”

As the escalating conflict triggers ever more population movement, UNICEF has accelerated efforts to provide sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services in Syria and across the region.

Mr McKinlay added, “The needs of the Syrian people are huge, but UNICEF, and Kiwi donors, are helping provide many basic necessities.

“Yet, each day as the conflict escalates more help is needed. Syrian children as still in desperately need of assistance to meet their daily needs such as water and sanitation.”

UNICEF needs more than NZ$260 million for its water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq until the end of the year. Nearly half way through the year, UNICEF remains NZ$160 million short of this target.

Donations can be made to UNICEF’s appeal for the children of Syria at: www.unicef.org.nz

ENDS

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