A Syrian refugee teacher distributes books to her refugee students in their classroom at Fatih Sultan Mehmet School in Karapurcek district of Ankara, Turkey, September 28, 2015.

A Syrian refugee teacher distributes books to her refugee students in their classroom at Fatih Sultan Mehmet School in Karapurcek district of Ankara, Turkey, September 28, 2015.
Photo Credit: Umit Bektas / Reuters

UNICEF launches $2.8B humanitarian appeal

The UN agency for children is launching a US$2.8 billion appeal to help children caught in wars or in the aftermath of devastating natural disasters around the world.

UNICEF says it wants to reach 43 million children in humanitarian emergencies in 63 countries.

For the first time ever, about one quarter of the appeal is going towards educating children in emergencies, the agency said.

UNICEF wants to almost double the number of children in humanitarian emergencies who are given access to education – from 4.9 million at the beginning of 2015 to 8.2 million in 2016.

The appeal hopes to help five million Syrian children inside the country or in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt that have received millions of Syrian refugees.

“In the midst of the horrors of conflict and unimaginable violence, education is one of the life-saving measures UNICEF it taking to reach millions of the world’s most vulnerable children,” David Morley, UNICEF Canada president and CEO said in a statement.

“To break the cycle of chronic crisis, children need hope for better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.”

 A migrant child walks through a frozen field after crossing the border from Macedonia, near the village of Miratovac, Serbia, January 18, 2016.
A migrant child walks through a frozen field after crossing the border from Macedonia, near the village of Miratovac, Serbia, January 18, 2016. © Marko Djurica / Reuters

Millions of children have been forced out of school by conflict, escalating violence, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises, putting their futures and those of their countries at risk, he said.

Morley said he counts on the generosity and compassion of ordinary Canadians.

“Whether it be earthquakes, floods or children caught in the crosshairs of conflict, the concern for the well-being and safety of children is paramount for Canadians,” added Morley. “The outpouring of support for children in the days and weeks following the earthquakes in Nepal was life-saving for children, as is Canadians’ ongoing support of UNICEF’s work with children caught in the Syrian crisis.”

Categories: Immigration & Refugees, International, Society
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