Global solidarity for Syria’s children Marking three years since the start of the conflict in Syria

Syria

WHY IS THERE FIGHTING IN SYRIA?

HOW DOES FIGHTING AFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE?

Disruptions to daily life In times of conflict people often face major disruption to their everyday lives and even basic services can become impossible to access. Children and their families might face: difficulties travelling or moving around their city, town or village schools shutting down difficulties getting food disruption to electricity supplies disruption to water supplies people leaving for safety, resulting in fewer people to run services rubbish not being collected.

Hisham’s Story

15 March marks three years since the start of the conflict in Syria. The fighting has already affected millions of people’s lives and more than 100,000 people have been killed. In Syria more than two million children have been forced to leave their homes and another two million have fled the country in search of safety.

Global Solidarity Save the Children has invited schools, organisations and people around the world to join a global movement of support, to show politicians and world leaders that we care about Syria and to show the people there they have not been forgotten. Between 10 – 14 March people around the world will gather together to hold vigils and to fundraise for Save the Children’s emergency Syria Appeal, sending a message of hope and friendship to Syria’s children and their families.

How can we show solidarity with the children of Syria? This March schools and groups around the world will be taking part in: Vigils, holding a minute of silence or making paper candles or drawings around the ideas of light and hope. Dress down days, donating £1 each to raise money for Save the Children’s emergency Syria Appeal. On the night of 14 March candlelit vigils will also take place all over the world and important buildings will be illuminated, to remind the world we care about Syria.

Save the Children’s life-saving work in Syria Since the start of the conflict Save the Children has been on the ground in Syria and its surrounding countries, providing life- saving support - including food, water and medicine - to children and their families inside the country and those who have fled the fighting. They’ve already reached nearly 800,000 people, including half a million children – but there are still many more families in urgent need of support.