The Syrian conflict has reached a grim milestone, entering its tenth year with no end in sight. Around 600,000 people, including 55,000 children, have been killed. Nearly 12 million people have been forced from their homes, displaced within Syria or outside its borders.
Children and families live in constant fear of violence that threatens death or sexual assault, particularly against women and girls. Millions of children are not in school. Children and their families have been denied humanitarian access, cutting them off from mental health and psychosocial support, education, food, shelter, healthcare, clean water, sanitation and protection.
In short, a whole generation of Syrians is in danger of being trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence. And COVID-19 only makes things worse. Here are more sobering facts on Syria:
