UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

February 2014 - The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate as a result of the civil war in the country. The United Nations estimates that more than 130,000 people have been killed, with hundreds of thousands more wounded, due to the violence. Within Syria, some 9.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 6.5 million of whom are internally displaced. In addition, over 2.4 million Syrian refugees are registered and living in host countries in the region. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the conflict and host countries are increasingly overstretched by the influx of affected people needing assistance. With the support of DFATD and other donors, UNICEF is: (1) providing conflict-affected people with safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene items; (2) reducing the spread of water-related diseases by supporting improved sanitation practices, community mobilization, hygiene promotion, and delivery of hygiene products and services on a sustainable and equitable basis to all conflict-affected people; and (3) supporting primary healthcare services for 1.98 million women and children and providing nutrition services to up to 900,000 children, as well as pregnant, and lactating women.