Some facts about Syria
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| Emergency relief for Lebanese refugees - photo: SOS Archives |
The Syrian Arab Republic has a population of around 22.5 million, 2.5 million of which live in the capital city of Damascus. The country has a diverse population with different ethnic and religious groups: the majority are Sunnis (74 per cent) and there are significant minorities (10 per cent each) of Christians and Alawites. Other minorities include: Kurds, Armenians, Duze and Shias. The conflicting interests of these groups have resulted in periods of political instability.
Syria remains an important player in the Middle East and has been involved in disputes and armed conflict with Israel and Lebanon. In 2011, people took to the streets calling for democracy and freedom. Later that year, the UN Security Council issued a resolution strongly condemning Syrian authorities for their violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters and calling for an immediate end to human rights abuses. EU and US economic sanctions followed.
A worsening economic situation
The people of Syria have suffered many hardships in the past decades. There is widespread poverty, high unemployment, and food prices have risen. The increasing pressure on water resources and the fall in oil supplies are predicted to have further detrimental effects on the lives of Syrians.
Syria’s major enterprises are largely nationalised, with a growing private sector. The economy has become increasingly service based, with most of the population working in this sector. Agriculture, the rearing of animals for subsistence and industries continue to be important.
In spite of the difficulties, gross domestic product has increased in recent years; the economy grew by 3.2 per cent in 2010. However, the economic and social situation deteriorated in 2011. Many businesses were not able to pay their employees or were forced to shut. The tourist industry, an important source of employment and income, also suffered badly.
In the decades prior to 2011 some progress had been made, especially regarding health and education. Although the poverty rates have fallen, they remain high: officially 11.9 per cent of the population lives in poverty. The situation is especially acute in rural areas. In addition, Syria is home to around1.4 million refugees from Iraq and about half a million Palestinians. Around 60,000 Palestinian refugees live below the nationally-established poverty line.
Syria is a destination country for women and children who end up working in the sex industry or as forced labourers. Women are recruited by employment agencies in Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia and Ethiopia in order to work in Syria as domestic workers, but they often end up in conditions which are akin to slavery.
Situation of the children in Syria
Demographically speaking, Syria is a young country with 35 per cent of the population under the age of 14. Some aspects of children's lives have changed for the better: access to primary education has improved, and although there are geographical disparities, in general terms the school drop-out rate has decreased. The availability of health care is more widespread than it was a few decades ago, and this has contributed to a fall in child and infant mortality rates.
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| At the playground - photo: R. B. Messalem |
However, according to local experts, children can only have a brighter future if Syria's social, economic and political situation improves. Many children were reported to be victims of the anti-government protests; they were shot during the protests, or detained and reportedly tortured in custody.
Child labour and human trafficking continue to be problems in parts of Syria. The majority of working children are found in rural areas, and it is believed that more boys are forced to work than girls. Most are employed in agriculture or as unpaid workers in family businesses. In urban areas, vulnerable children often fall prey to street begging rings.
SOS Children's Villages in Syria
SOS Children's Villages is present in Khan El Assal near Aleppo, the biggest city in Syria, which is located in the north of the country, and in Qodsaya, close to the capital city of Damascus. Our organisation provides support according to the needs of the local families and children. The SOS Social Centre in Damascus runs a family strengthening programme in cooperation with local agencies. SOS workers provide children with access to essential services such as education and health. They also support families with advice on parental skills and income generation. When children can no longer live with their families, they can be looked after by the SOS mothers. Young adults can live in special houses where they are guided on their path to an independent life with the help of professionals.