UNICEF: Over 80% of Syria's children harmed by conflict

PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 80 percent of Syria's children have been harmed by the country's conflict, including growing numbers of those who were forced to work, join armed groups or marry young because of widening poverty, the UN children's agency said Monday, March 14, on the fifth anniversary of the crisis, the Associated Press reports.

Peter Salama, the agency's regional chief, called on donor countries to make good on money pledges made at a Syria aid conference in London last month. His agency, UNICEF, seeks $1.16 billion for 2016 to help Syria's children, including close to 3 million who are not in school.

The agency has so far received only 6 percent of the amount it seeks for this year. Salama said it would make more sense for donors to provide the funds early on and enable more effective, longer-term planning.

"Let's stop the suffering now, let's ensure that they (Syria's children) have a future, and they see that they have a future," Salama told The Associated Press. "We have an opportunity still to save this generation."

Salama spoke as the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, reconvened indirect talks in Geneva between representatives of Syrian President Bashar Assad and opposition groups trying to topple his government. The talks resumed after a fragile, partial cease-fire took hold on Feb. 27.

The Syria conflict began in March 2011 as a popular uprising against Assad that quickly escalated into civil war. Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed. Almost half the pre-war population of 23 million has been displaced, including more than 4.8 million who fled their homeland.

UNICEF said the conflict has affected more than 80 percent of Syria's children, including 7 million who now live in poverty. This has led to growing numbers of children leaving school to work, marrying young or joining armed groups, as a way of supporting their families financially, the agency said.