Poverty + Development

Most Syrian refugees are just too poor to flee to Europe

About half of the 380,000 migrants and refugees who have claimed asylum in Europe this year are Syrian, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

An expanse of tents behind them, children walk in the Kawergosk camp for Syrian refugees, just west of Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region. By 14 November, the camp was hosting over 13,100 refugees. In mid-November 2013 in Iraq, over 202,000 Syrians are registered or awaiting registration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. They are among more than 2.2 million Syrians – over 1.1 million of them children – who have fled the Syrian Arab Republic, with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey also serving as host countries. Among UNICEF’s ongoing support in Iraq are programmes in water, sanitation and hygiene, including the provision of toilets, showers, hygiene and family water kits, and the trucking of safe water to vulnerable areas. Child protection initiatives include psychosocial support, recreation activities and life skills classes in child-friendly spaces. Education support includes the provision of tent schools and learning supplies and initiatives to increase student enrolment. As part of efforts in health and nutrition, the second round of a national polio immunization campaign was launched on 2 November and is targeting 182,851 children under age 5, including Syrian child refugees. The campaign was launched in response to a recent polio outbreak in the neighbouring Syrian Arab Republic. Working with diverse governments, partners and other United Nations agencies, UNICEF has appealed for a total of US$470.65 million to cover responses within Syria and all host countries. By 14 November, nearly 87 per cent had been funded.

By Hugh Naylor and Suzan Haidamous for the Washington Post.

BEIRUT — Images of his countrymen streaming into Europe inspired Bassem al-Alyan to make the journey. But like many other Syrian refugees, he faces a significant obstacle.

Alyan is too poor to go.

Europe? I can’t even feed my children.

Last month, he said, he paid a smuggler $1,500 that he managed to raise by selling his children’s beds, his pregnant wife’s jewelry and their refrigerator. After he and his sickly son reached Germany, the plan was to bring over the rest of the family from a destitute refugee camp in Lebanon’s capital.

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