Fear for Girls in Syrian Conflict Rises

April 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Aid organisation World Vision has recently expressed deep concerns for young girls in families fleeing Syria as parents try to escape the worsening crisis. There is a fear that young girls will become increasingly caught up in forced marriage as parents are unable to protect their children.

These concerns come in the wake of reports from aid agencies and UN bodies in Lebanon and Jordan which have revealed parents, in a desperate attempt to survive, are having to marry off their children.

A World Vision report, “Untying the Knot”, discovered parents are turning to these marriages in the belief that it will provide their children the greatest chance of safety.

Erica Hall, Senior Child Rights Policy Advisor at World Vision, said: “During a conflict like the one in Syria, families lose everything. They’ve been stripped of their homes, jobs and savings - but also community structures like schools, friends and family that helped keep their children safe.

“It’s hard for parents to know where the next meal is going to come from and how they can protect their children from danger, including the very real threat of sexual violence.

“Parents will feel incredibly vulnerable and may believe a husband will be able to protect their daughter from these threats and to better provide for their remaining children too.

“But early marriages have long term, negative impacts on girls’ health, wellbeing and future.”

The concern is that whilst the crisis in Syria is showing no sign of improvement, families are not able to return and therefore the threat facing young girls will remain.

World Vision believes more research should be done in an attempt to determine how many children have been forced into marriage.

Staff from World Vision recently met one mother, Amira, who revealed marrying off her 12 year-old daughter, Sheereen, would be the last resort in an attempt to secure her families survival. Amira is pregnant and has no other way of paying the rent for her one room apartment which is home to her four children.

With an estimated 8,000 people fleeing Syria every day, most of whom have very little money, families may increasingly find forced marriage is the only option for them to ensure they get the money the need to survive.

An estimated one million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries including Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon with most families having to live in very poor conditions, cramped into overcrowded flats and temporary shelters.

It’s important to try and ensure children are not living in fear of their lives. World Vision is trying to do this by providing places where children can feel safe, away from potential violence and abuse.

World Vision is also providing food, safe water, hygiene kits, blankets and fuel for those affected by this crisis.

World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org.uk/) is a member of The Disasters Emergency Committee, whose appeal for the Syria Crisis has so far raised £5.9 million. You can donate at www.dec.org.uk or 0370 60 60 900