UNICEF: More than 7 million children were affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey

ARK News… The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed that more than seven million children were affected in Syria and Turkey as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck the two countries last week.

According to the organization, the total number of affected children is still unclear, but preliminary estimates indicate that 4.6 million children live in the ten Turkish provinces hit by the earthquake, and more than 2.5 million children in Syria were affected.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: “Children and families in Turkey and Syria are facing unimaginable hardship in the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes. We must do everything we can to ensure that everyone who survives this disaster receives life-saving support.”

UNICEF indicated that it is also working to ensure that children return to education as soon as possible, as the organization is assessing the damage to schools and making preparations for immediate repairs, and establishing temporary learning spaces.

In a related context, the United Nations Education cannot wait fund announced its first grant for the Syria emergency response of $7 million, and called on world leaders to provide similar funds at a high-level financing conference scheduled for later this week.

According to the fund, the grant will provide access to temporary safe spaces, psychosocial support and well-being for children and teachers, and other forms of comprehensive educational support for children affected by the earthquake. The funding also provides a broader framework for donors to support the response in Syria, similar to the methods being deployed in Ukraine.

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