* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
*All names have been changed for confidentiality
At Christmas time you'll hear carols and cards talk of 'peace of earth'. Yet for Syria (as with many countries around the world), peace is far from a reality. Enas* and her family of six children fled Syria about five months ago from Aleppo because of the conflict. The conflict will mark its 4th year in March and seems to be showing no signs of decreasing.
I met Enas and her family in Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, whilst supporting our Syria response team there for three weeks in December. They are trying to make a new life in the camp alongside approximately 10,000 other Syrian refugees. They are also amongst the 3.2 million Syrians (nearly half the population of the country) that are now seeking safety in neighbouring countries such as Jordan.
Inside Enas's shelter, I met Nada and Bushra, her two youngest children. Nada is 5 years old and Bushra is 5 months, born in the camp after they arrived. For Nada, she's had to leave her home with all her belongings and her family, and has to now live in a strange place. Although she is safe and loves the swings in the playground, her family lives with the uncertainty of not knowing how long they will be there and when they can return home. Bushra has never known her home country.
Syrian children have been massively impacted by conflict, and sadly despite being the most vulnerable, can be neglected in terms of the specific needs they have. Over the last few years, too often we've seen Syrian children (and children of host communities as well) forced to grow up too quickly. They haven't been protected but have had to step up and become the protectors/providers in their families. Some have lost or been separated from parents, have had to work, get married early and/or stop their education.
For Nada and Bushra, they have actually had the fortune of being directed to Azraq. As camps go, it's not bad. Many NGOs and UN agencies are helping to provide clean water, sanitation, food, shelter, education, playing spaces and much more.
But there are many more children in need of this kind assistance. Out of the 3.2 million Syrian refugees 1.7 million are children. This isn't counting those inside Syria who has yet fled but need assistance but is often in hard to reach areas where agencies can't access. According to recent UN appeals last week, over £5.3 billion in funds is being requested to help nearly 18 million people in Syria and across the region in 2015.
The needs are vast and it is vital that the international community steps up now more than ever to provide funding without delay, and making sure they coordinate for the best possible impact. Many lives depend on this. However, these funding needs to also particularly take into account the needs of children. They should not only be provided for in terms of basic needs, like food, shelter and education, but also need protecting and a safe space to simply be children. Their childhood is something they will never be able to get back and many have already lost valuable years.
But what struck me most from my visit with Nada and Bushra was that when I asked Enas about her hopes for their future, her reply was one answer: an end to the fighting and for peace in Syria, so that they could return home. She's desperate for 'peace on earth', peace in her home country.
Children like Nada, like Bushra, along with many others, lose out day after day by experiencing the horrors of war and not being able to return home. This should be the stark reason that now more ever that the international community should re-engage and double diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the crisis. In light of the massive needs, this is ultimately the only way to prevent further suffering for years to come for children.
They should not have to spend one more day more than they have to as refugees!
