Syria

For brothers Osama*, 6, and Yousef*, 10, the day returning home after the end of 14 years of conflict in Syria should have been one of celebration - but instead it was one of tragedy

From safe schools to ending child marriage to cleaning up the oceans, children across the globe used their voices for their rights

Syrians returning home full of hope in the year since the conflict ended said they are struggling to rebuild their lives amid destroyed infrastructure, limited access to schools and healthcare, and a collapsing economy, Save the Children said.

Save the Children now delivers aid exclusively from inside the country through hubs in Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa and Qamishli and employs more than 1,050 staff, 96% of whom are Syrian nationals, placing decisions, resources and accountability squarely in Syrian hands.

This op-ed by Bujar Hoxha, Save the Children Syria Country Director, highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis facing Syria’s children amid political change. With millions affected by hunger, displacement, and aid cuts, he urges prioritizing children’s safety, education, and wellbeing to secure Syria’s future.

Data compiled by a group of humanitarian organisations operating in Syria shows that in nearly half of the country’s districts, more than 50% of children under five with severe acute malnutrition are not receiving the treatment they need. Malnutrition cases in Syria have been rising for years, but funding cuts have exacerbated an already dire situation.

At least 130 million children across the countries hardest-hit during the pandemic continue to experience school closures due to the climate crises, five years after their schools closed in response to COVID-19.

One in four children who lost their homes in the Türkiye earthquakes two years ago remain in temporary shelters such as shipping containers while access to necessities and services such as education remain a challenge.

For Syrians everywhere—inside and outside the country—there’s a shared hope for a brighter future, but there’s still much work ahead. It is time for the international community to step up, to stand with Syria’s children, and to ensure that this turning point becomes the beginning of a new chapter — one of hope, opportunity, and dignity.

The recent developments in Syria and what they mean for children.