UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac delivered a speech in a briefing in Geneva warning that the number of children who need clothes and winter items is increasing.
A lot of children have died due to the extreme weather across the region including Syria. They are the victims who lived in tents, unfinished buildings and inadequate shelters.
Many children are being exposed to sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow and strong winds making them suffer from various kinds of diseases such as respiratory tract infections and other illnesses associated with cold weather.
So far, UNICEF has been delivering aiding supplies including warm clothing, blankets, heating supplies, cash and vouchers to 916,000 children in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey of the 1.3 million target children.
Christophe Boulierac warns the rain, flood and heavy snow have caused chaos and 'untold misery' for so many children. “Most families do not have access to fuel or electricity, or simply cannot afford to buy it,” Boulierac stressed.
UNICEF and its partners have distributed thousands of winter clothing, tents and hygiene kits as well as providing fuel tanks and radiators for 40,000 children and 1,400 teachers in Syria, however, there are a lot of children in need who have not received help.
The prevailing harsh winter and snowstorm has created untold miseries amongst the displaced population including stories of deaths due to respiratory and infectious diseases and bad weather.
UNICEF has provided 28,000 winter kits and vouchers to 200,000 children in the most exposed areas of the country.
Despite all these humanitarian operations, major challenges persist, Mr. Boulierac stressed, emphasizing that the number of vulnerable children increases on a daily basis. He appealed to donors for funding so that UNICEF could continue its work.
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