Young Syrians paid heavy price of decade long violence and chaos
Young people lost loved ones, economic opportunities and hope for better future
Across the
three countries, young people spoke of families and friendships torn apart,
immense economic hardship and worry, frustrated ambitions, missed milestones
and the profound psychological toll of years of relentless violence and
disruption.
“This has
been a decade of savage loss for all Syrians. For young people in particular,
the last ten years have been marked by loss of loved ones, loss of
opportunities and loss of control over their future. The survey is a sombre
snapshot of a generation who lost their adolescence and young adulthood to the
conflict,” said Robert Mardini, the ICRC’s Geneva-based director-general.
In a country
where more than half the population are under the age of 25, the survey is a
glimpse of what millions have endured over the last ten years.
In Syria,
almost one in two young people (47%) said a close relative or friend had been
killed in the conflict. One in six young Syrians said at least one of their
parents was killed or seriously injured (16%). 12% had themselves been injured
in the conflict.
54%
had lost contact with a close relative. In Lebanon this rises to
almost seven in ten.
62%
reported having to leave their homes, either within Syria or abroad.
Nearly
half had lost their income because of the conflict (49%), and nearly eight in
ten (77%) reported struggling to find or afford food and necessities. In Syria,
this rose to 85%.
57%
reported missing years of education, if they went at all.
One in
five reported postponing marriage plans because of the conflict.
Economic
opportunities and jobs top young Syrians’ list of what they need most,
followed by healthcare, education and psychological support. Women have been
particularly hard-hit economically, with almost 30% in Syria reporting no
income at all to support their family. Young Syrians in Lebanon report
humanitarian assistance among their top needs.
The
conflict’s impact on mental health is also clear. In the past 12 months, young
people in Syria have experienced sleep disorders (54%), anxiety (73%),
depression (58%), solitude (46%), frustration (62%) and distress (69%) because
of the conflict. In all three countries, young Syrians said access to
psychological support was one of the things they needed most.
“These young
people are now facing their second decade of this agonizing crisis. What is so
poignant about their situation is that, having lost much of their childhood and
teenage years to the violence, this generation will likely shoulder much of the
responsibility and work of reconstruction. Their children’s lives will be
marked by this conflict, too,” said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s Geneva-based
regional director for the Near and Middle East.
The conflict
in Syria has been breathtakingly brutal for civilians, characterized by
destruction of cities and towns on a vast scale, massive internal
displacement and a refugee crisis that has reverberated across the world.
In the past year, millions of people have been pushed deeper into poverty by
the worst economic crisis since the conflict began, compounded by the impact of
sanctions and the global coronavirus pandemic. Some 13.4 million people
(out of roughly 18 million) need humanitarian assistance.
The survey
found 57 percent reported missing years of education, if they went at all,
while one in five reported postponing marriage plans because of the conflict.
Rami Asfar,
29, left his hometown Hama to move to Aleppo during the conflict. He said the
decision to leave was one he will never forget.
“This war
changed my life completely. I’m changed where I live, my ambitions, all my
plans. I even changed my university major. I’ve been forced to find better
conditions in these bad ones."
Ahmad,
originally from Homs and living in Lebanon, says his situation is worsening by
day.
“I had more
money when I was 10 years old than now when I am 24. I have nothing of my
personal belongings I used to have at home. I used to have my own wardrobe,
desk and computer."
Iman Shebli,
26, lived in Lebanon with her family for several years before moving to
Barcelona to study.
“I started
from zero. People around me told me it is difficult to find a job because of
economic problems and the coronavirus situation,” she said.
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