Giving Monthly Sustains UNICEF's Work in Syria's Ongoing Crisis
Steadfast support from monthly donors enables UNICEF to be there for children in need, whether they're on the front page or not.
Eight years of bitter civil war in Syria have left schools, hospitals and water treatment facilities in ruins, and 13.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Every conflict comes with terrible consequences for children, who always pay the highest price. An estimated 2.6 million children have been forced out of their homes inside Syria and another 2.5 million children are living as refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Just in the past month, hostilities in northwest Syria forced an estimated 150,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety. At least 11 children have been reported killed in the fighting.
On May 9, 2019 near Kafr Lusein, Syria, families forced out of their homes by violence share group tents provided by the Turkish Red Crescent, after spending many days in the open. © UNICEF/UN0310823/Al Ahmad
Protracted humanitarian crises are often eclipsed by fresh emergencies elsewhere
Since the crisis began, UNICEF has been on the ground, working with partners to provide the assistance and services Syria's children need to survive: nutrition, safe drinking water, education, protection, health care and more. That work wouldn't be possible without the sustained support of generous donors.
But as fresh emergencies crowd into the headlines, it becomes harder for ongoing crises to capture the world's attention.
Giving monthly ensures that UNICEF will have the funds necessary to help children born into ongoing emergencies
That's why monthly giving is so essential to protect the futures of children growing up in protracted humanitarian crises. Even when their story isn't on the front page, Syrian children displaced by violence need safety and the chance to have a normal childhood. Whether they are growing up in Syria or in a refugee camp in a neighboring country, a generation of children need a quality education now, so they can grow up to become productive adults.
In schools in Aleppo, Syria, students are taught to avoid alleys and to stay in the middle of the road, to avoid stepping on unexploded remnants of war. © UNICEF/UN0287092/Grove Hermansen
By becoming a monthly donor, you make it possible for UNICEF to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable Syrian children growing up in crisis
"Last year, UNICEF responded to more than 300 humanitarian emergencies, from conflicts to natural disasters," says Karlo Coello, UNICEF USA Senior Director for Monthly Giving. "Emergency appeals bring in important revenue, but after the emergency, there are still a lot of things children need to make life bearable. That's what our monthly donors provide."
Regular recurring donations let UNICEF plan for the future, so every dollar has maximum impact
UNICEF USA's monthly giving program lets members set up their monthly giving in one easy step. Giving up something as small as a cup of coffee can have a big impact on the life of a child. And establishing a recurring monthly gift lets UNICEF plan ahead on how best to use that money, ensuring that every dollar donated has maximum impact. Rebuilding a battered nation takes time, expertise, persistence — and committed donors.
Ten-year-old Bajan (in red hat) shows her drawing to her teacher at a UNICEF-supported primary school in Aleppo, Syria in 2019. Children risk permanent damage growing up in a war zone. "I feel most comfortable under my bed," says Bajan. © UNICEF/UN0287079/
Monthly givers know they're helping UNICEF save and protect the world's most vulnerable children
It can be hard to read the news these days. More countries are embroiled in internal and international fighting now than at any time in the past 30 years. No child chooses to be born into a war zone. Setting up a regular monthly gift to UNICEF means that every day, you'll know you're doing your part to help UNICEF put children first and make sure they receive the support and protection they need to have healthy, happy childhoods.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
