Beyond Survival: Seven years of war on Syria’s children

In February 2018, World Vision spoke to 1,254 Syrian girls and boys in Southern Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. They talked about their daily lives, their hopes for the future and the things they think about. Their stories included war-induced violence, displacement, and missing, separated and deceased family members. The survey shows that the conflict has dramatically altered children’s familiar living environments and social structures. They have moved to new places, live in confined spaces, attend different schools, and miss family members and friends who were once part of their lives.

Children and families need programmes that promote their resilience and increase coping mechanisms to mitigate the effects of stressors. Expansion and investment in mental health and psychosocial support programmes (MHPSS) is urgently required.