What is happening for children and young people in Syria now?
After over a decade of conflict in Syria, the Al-Assad regime was overthrown in December 2024. Now, millions of children and young people are facing a terrifying future.
For 13 years, children in Syria lived under a constant threat of violence. Over 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million children are still out of school, because they are traumatised, or forced to work to support their families (UNICEF).
The systems that kept children safe have been destroyed by years of violence. Now, children without adult guardians are extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Reports of children disappearing and child trafficking have become increasingly common (UNHCR, 2023; World Vision, 2023).
90% of Syrians are still living in poverty today. This has pushed thousands of children into the worst forms of child labour, including begging, scavenging, and dangerous physical labour.
Children are often exposed to physical danger, exploitation, and chronic health issues, while being denied access to education, healthcare, and other fundamental rights (International Blue Crescent, 2025).
