Northeast of Syria: UNICEF provides vital aid to children and families

Damascus, January 27, 2022 - While violence continues in and around the Ghwayran detention center in northeast Syria, children continue to be extremely vulnerable and have an urgent need for protection.

Violence has forced nearly 45,000 people in the region to flee, most of them being women and children.Some have been moved several times, fleeing violence in other regions of Syria over the years.

"The fighting must stop for the good of the children of the prison and the surroundings," said Bo Viktor Nylund, representative of UNICEF in Syria.

A week after the start of violence, some of the main roads are still closed, which disrupts the traffic and the routing of essential supplies.

UNICEF is in the field, in collaboration with its partners, to provide inappropriate children and their families vital aid, in particular drinking water and essential hygiene supplies.

Frightened children

UNICEF volunteers helped people reach shelters and clinics and distributed food, covers, mattresses, clothes and medicines.They also distributed documents on the risks linked to explosive ammunition to raise awareness among boys and girls in shelters and keep them safe.

A mobile health and nutrition team supported by UNICEF provides services and drugs to vulnerable children and their mothers.Until now, the team has provided medical consultations and free drugs;She examined children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers;And it provided children with malnutrition of additional ready -to -use foods.

UNICEF provides information to families on how to prevent separation and provide psychosocial support to children and caregivers.Until now, nine separate and unaccompanied children have been identified.They were separated from their families along the way and do not know where their parents are.

"The children in the shelters were frightened after the horrors they witnessed.Families told us that children were nightmares and peed in bed.It is a trying experience for them, and it is clear that they have an urgent need for protection and assistance, ”added Bo Viktor Nylund.

UNICEF continues to ask all parties present in northeast Syria to protect all children at any time.UNICEF urges all the Member States concerned to take urgent and responsible measures in the best interests of children and to bring children and their mothers back to their country of origin.

UNICEF once again requests the immediate release of children in the detention center and unhindered access to them for care and emergency assistance.

Notes aux rédactions :La station d'eau d'Alouk est opérationnelle et fournit de l'eau à la ville d'Al-Hasakeh.The water supply of the Ghwayran district was suspended on January 24 and was diverted to the areas welcoming a large number of displaced people.UNICEF mobilizes tanker trucks and has delivered 24,000 liters of clean and safe drinking water to around 2000 people.Essential hygiene supplies - in particular buckets, soap, water purification tablets and disinfectant - have been provided.