LEBANON: Charity groups in Lebanon, including UNICEF, are organising activities for Syrian children to help them deal with the traumatic events that they have witnessed as a result of the conflict in their country

Record ID: 174045

  • Title: LEBANON: Charity groups in Lebanon, including UNICEF, are organising activities for Syrian children to help them deal with the traumatic events that they have witnessed as a result of the conflict in their country
  • Date: 13th August 2013
  • Summary: TYRE, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) WIDE OF THE BUS THAT PICKS CHILDREN UP FOR ACTIVITIES STICKERS ON THE BUS CHILDREN GETTING ON THE BUS MORE OF THE BUS CLOSE OF STICKER ON THE BUS READING IN ARABIC 'WE PLAY, WE LEARN' WITH UNICEF VARIOUS OF CHILDREN REGISTERING WITH SOCIAL WORKER NEAR THE BUS CLOSE OF GIRL WIDE OF CHILDREN PLAYING DURING ACTIVITIES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHILD PROTECTION CO-ORDINATOR, HIBA IDRISS, SAYING: "The activities today are here in the garden because the children are living in very hard conditions, in small houses, so we tried to have the activities in a different place as to where they are living, for it to be somewhere different, a different environment to where they're living, it looks different, so we brought them to a garden to do the activities. Of course our main goal is to put a smile on their faces, to let them come out of the environment that they're living in. Of course after they fled the war and the misery, they saw very difficult things and face very difficult situations, so for them to be involved in games and to feel that they too have rights, and people are taking care of them in a different place.'' VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SINGING AND JUMPING VARIOUS OF BANNER READING 'UNICEF' VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING GAMES CLOSE OF T-SHIRT READING 'UNICEF' (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST IN UNICEF LEBANON, MYRIAM AZAR, SAYING: "The aim is to access as many children as possible at the earliest points, so what we're doing is going to registration centres and identifying the most vulnerable children, also at the houses levels with our NGO partners. And in these recreational activities, they are always with social workers, and they also identify children that might need psychological support, and then we are working also with psychologists on these specific case management." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN HAVING THEIR FACES PAINTED VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SITTING ON GROUND VARIOUS OF CHILDREN RUNNING AND JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS MAN ARRANGING TOYS ON SHELF (SOUNDBITE) (English) COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE OF 'TERRE DES HOMMES' FOUNDATION IN LEBANON, CARINE MILHORGNE, SAYING: "We are doing recreational activities with all of those children. We are as well doing case management, which is working specifically with the children and their families, children that are at risk of abuse, exploitation or violence. We are as well working for awareness-raising on child protection and as well doing training in child protection here in the area." VARIOUS OF MAN WORKING ON HIS LAPTOP CLOSE OF STICKERS ON THE LAPTOP READING THE NGO'S NAME 'TERRE DES HOMMES' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SOCIAL WORKER FROM 'TERRE DES HOMMES', MALAK AL-HAJJ ALI, SAYING: "Children are responding in a very positive way. We are engaging them with their parents in home activities, this is helping them reduce their stress." TOY ON TABLE TOYS ON SHELF
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACN97272J4VT1RF16FBB9OE7KZ
  • Story Text: Children boarding this bus in the Lebanese city of Tyre are about to head off to spend some time in the countryside.
    But what appears to be a day of games in a park, is a special treat for these children. They're all Syrian refugees, who fled the violence in their homeland for a new life in Lebanon.
    More than half of those fleeing the bloodshed are children, and many have witnessed horrific events.
    Earlier this year a report by London-based charity Save the Children said Syrian children have been shot at, tortured and raped during the years of unrest and civil war, becoming the innocent victims of a bloody conflict that has already claimed 70,000 lives.
    Here in southern Lebanon a number of charity organisations are working with the children, to help alleviate their stress and trauma.
    Aid workers here say the games and activities are a distraction for the children's everyday life, with many living in cramped and squalid conditions, the change of environment can aid their recovery.

    "The activities today are here in the garden because the children are living in very hard conditions, in small houses, so we tried to have the activities in a different place as to where they are living, for it to be somewhere different, a different environment to where they're living, it looks different, so we brought them to a garden to do the activities. Of course our main goal is to put a smile on their faces, to let them come out of the environment that they're living in. Of course after they fled the war and the misery, they saw very difficult things and face very difficult situations, so for them to be involved in games and to feel that they too have rights, and people are taking care of them in a different place,'' said Lebanese child protection co-ordinator Hiba Idriss.
    UNICEF say they are working towards identifying as many vulnerable children as possible, in order to make sure they're given the proper care that's needed.

    "The aim is to access as many children as possible at the earliest points, so what we're doing is going to registration centres and identifying the most vulnerable children, also at the houses levels with our NGO partners. And in these recreational activities, they are always with social workers, and they also identify children that might need psychological support, and then we are working also with psychologists on these specific case management," said Myriam Azar, a communication specialist from UNICEF.
    The activities that the children do range from face painting, to music and dance.
    Terre des Hommes is another charity in Lebanon that is working alongside UNICEF, they too are offering support for child refugees and their parents.

    "We are doing recreational activities with all of those children. We are as well doing case management, which is working specifically with the children and their families, children that are at risk of abuse, exploitation or violence. We are as well working for awareness-raising on child protection and as well doing training in child protection here in the area," said Carine Milhorgne a representative from the charity.
    The Save the Children report said two thirds of children surveyed said that they had been separated from members of their families due to the conflict and a third said they had experienced the death of a close friend or family member.
    Syria's civil war started with peaceful protests against the dynastic rule of President Bashar al-Assad. His forces shot at protesters and arrested thousands and soon the revolt turned into a civil war. Rebels now control large swathes of Syria.
    Millions have fled their homes for safer ground or neighbouring countries. Save the Children says 80,000 people are living in barns, parks and caves and children struggle to find enough to eat.
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