Over 6 million Syrian kids in dire need of aid: UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that more than six million Syrian children are in need of humanitarian aid due to the persisting foreign-backed insurgency war in the country.
On Friday, UNICEF spokesman Simon Ingram said at a press conference in Geneva that 6.6 million Syrian children are in need of help.
“That’s an astonishing number and it’s one that is rising very, very fast,” Ingram said.
UNICEF has so far received only 37 percent of the $770 million needed to cover services until the end of 2014 for kids inside Syria and the ones living as refugees in neighboring countries.
“There is actually a very real risk that as a result of this funding crisis and unless the money does come in we will be forced to discontinue some of the critical services that we are providing,” said the UNICEF spokesman.
The UN children’s agency is particularly worried due to the hot summer in the region which could halt water and sanitation services, resulting in the outbreak of dangerous diseases.
According to the UN, 36 cases of polio have been discovered in the country so far this year.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 160,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by foreign-backed militants.
