As the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the UN, ECW has been providing critical support to children affected by crisis in Syria since 2017.
Syria remains one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world. The armed conflict, which lasted over a decade, has not only disrupted the education of millions of girls and boys but has also exposed them to horrendous violence and ongoing protection risks. Accessing education is further complicated by limited internet connectivity, deepening the isolation of young learners. In 2025, nearly 7.5 million children in Syria will need humanitarian assistance due to a worsening economic crisis, widespread displacement and severely damaged infrastructure. An estimated 2.4 million children remain out of school, contributing to one of the most severe education crises in recent history. With schools destroyed, damaged or repurposed to shelter displaced families, educational facilities are strained beyond capacity, leaving a generation of Syrian children bearing the cost of this crisis.
ECW recently scaled-up its Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country with a US$20 million grant. The programme ensures continuous, quality education in challenging environments through a holistic approach – including providing mental health and psychosocial support, establishing safe learning spaces to protect children from attacks and violence and addressing the diverse needs of crisis-affected children like Nizar. It also strengthens national and local education systems, ensuring children can learn and thrive despite the ongoing crisis.
To date, ECW has reached more than 610,000 girls and boys in the country with quality education – including thousands of children with disabilities who previously had limited or no access to adequate educational resources.
Fortunately, the recent changes in December 2024 present a historic opportunity to drive meaningful progress in children’s rights and place their needs at the centre of Syria’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. In response to this pivotal moment, partners like UNICEF are committed to making strategic shifts toward institutional development, working alongside national partners to deliver scalable and sustainable solutions that prioritize children. While this transition is crucial, it remains equally vital for partners to sustain, expand and scale up humanitarian interventions – ensuring support reaches vulnerable children, affected communities, newly accessible areas, and returning internally-displaced persons and refugees.
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