Geographic Region: Middle East and North Africa

Syria’s nine year conflict has continued unabated, with all parties to the conflict intensifying military operations in Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Eastern Ghouta and in the Northeast of the country. Despite the ongoing conflict, UNICEF has been working hard to provide essential supplies and support to children in the region.

In 2019, UNICEF reached almost all corners of the globe – 190 countries to be exact – to help save children’s lives. To celebrate the end of the year – and the end of a decade – we’ve chosen 5 stories from at home and abroad, to showcase how the tireless work of UNICEF staff and the generous support of our donors enables us to defend the right to childhood, for every child.

UNICEF Canada ambassador and teacher Bayan Yammout visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan – the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees – in October 2019, to provide training for facilitators (Syrian refugees who run the UNICEF designated programs) at the camp’s Makani Centres. In a two part series, she shares her reflections on life for children in the camps.

UNICEF Canada ambassador and teacher Bayan Yammout visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan – the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees – in October 2019, to provide training for facilitators at the camp’s Makani Centres. In a two part series, she shares her reflections on life for children in the camps.

The holidays are fast approaching, which means last-minute gift shoppers are urgently searching for that special something to give to friends, family or that special someone. In the spirit of the season, UNICEF Canada offers this holiday rescue guide; our top 6 meaningful gifts that will help children in need this season.

Kawthar is a 25 year old mother, who fled airstrikes in Serekaniye (also known as Ras Al-Ayn) with her only daughter Barcham (2 and a half years old). They are some of the approximately 176,000 people (including almost 80,000 children) who have been displaced inside north-eastern Syria just in the last two weeks.

Safia Ibrahim is a 37 year old Somali-born Canadian. When she was 1 years old, she contracted polio that rendered her unable to walk. For World Polio Day, Safia spoke with UNICEF Canada about the choice she never got to make but one that has impacted her entire life.

Twenty-four thousand children were killed or maimed in conflicts in 2018. This is the highest number ever reported by the UN since it began monitoring the six grave violations affecting children nearly 15 years ago. David Morley comments on the situation and how Canada must make children’s rights, safety and wellbeing a global priority.

Ayate, Ashe, Biftu, Anifa, and Asiya all said ‘no!’ to marriage. Each girl knew her rights and was brave enough to exercise them. And all of them plan to inspire others to do the same in the hope of stopping the harmful practice of men marrying young girls in their community.

Our president and CEO David Morley was in New York City recently for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While on the plane back to Toronto, he crafted this letter, about the impact being at the UNGA had on him and the work that we do as UNICEF Canada.