4.5 Million Children Displaced By Conflict In Five Nations

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Conflicts and instability in Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan have uprooted at least 4.5 million children, said UNICEF on the eve of a United Nations' high level meeting on the global migrant and refugee crisis. Since the beginning of 2015, more than half a million people have crossed the Mediterranean into Europe with one-fifth of those reaching the European shores being children. "Whether they are fleeing by sea or by road, they are often at the mercy of smugglers and have to carry the physical and psychological burden of war, displacement and hostility," said Afshan Khan, Director of UNICEF Emergency Programmes. The displaced children required comprehensive, collaborative and sustainable responses, he added. Afshan said UNICEF remained committed to providing vital support along the children's journey in search of a more secure future. In Syria UNICEF provided water, sanitation, vaccination and schools, in Europe UNICEF has created chilren friendly spaces and work with host nations to provide the best for them. In developing countries UNICEF helps to tackle underlining causes of poverty and the lack of opportunities. In conjunction with the UN meeting, UNICEF on Wednesday will host a Twitter takeover (@UNICEF, 8 am EST) to bring the voices of four Syrian children now living in Austria, Jordan and Turkey. --BERNAMA