Fast Facts on Syrian Displacement
• Nearly 12 million Syrians have been displaced by the fighting — at least 7.6 million within Syria, and more than 4 million as refugees in neighboring countries.
• Increasing numbers of refugees are attempting to reach Europe.
• About half of those displaced are children.
• Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of becoming ill, malnourished, abused, or exploited. Millions have been forced to quit school.
• Since the beginning of this crisis, World Vision has helped more than 2 million people in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.
• In response to the migration toward Europe, we are now also providing aid in Serbia..
• The 4 million Syrian refugees have relocated primarily to Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan. Increasing numbers are attempting to reach Europe.
What risks do children face?
Children are especially susceptible to malnutrition and diseases related to poor sanitation. Many suffer from diarrheal diseases and dehydration.
Children are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation in unfamiliar and overcrowded conditions. Without adequate income to support their families and fearful of their daughters being molested, parents — especially single mothers — may opt to arrange marriage for girls as young as 13.
According to the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report 2015, warring parties in Syria forcibly recruit children to serve as fighters, human shields, and in support roles.
What is the impact on refugee children’s education?
Between 2.1 and 2.4 million school-age children are not attending school. In Syria, 5,000 to 14,000 schools have been damaged, destroyed or occupied since 2011. The decline in education for Syrian children has been the sharpest and most rapid in the history of the region, according to UNICEF.
For refugee families that don’t live in camps, paying rent and other expenses can make it difficult for parents to afford books, uniforms, and tuition fees for their children. In some cases, children must give up school and start work to help provide for their families.
In Lebanon, the government has opened public schools to Syrian children, but language barriers, overcrowding, and the cost of transportation keep many refugee children out of school.
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