Five years of war in Syria has stolen the childhoods of children like Ammar who lives in a refugee camp in Jordan

How Syrian Children Cope — Ammar Tells His Story

Series: Children of Syria Speak, Part 3 of 5

 

Meet 13-year-old Ammar. In Syria, he lived in a nice home. He went to school and played soccer with friends. But two years ago, his family moved to Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp. "I started working because my dad could no longer work," he says. "I give my parents the money I earn so they can buy us food.... By the time I get to school I'm so tired I just sit there. I feel so sad." 

 

 

For five years now, the children of Syria have lived with raging conflict.

 

The violence has taken a toll. Of the 8.4 million children affected, some are displaced in their own homeland. Others live as refugees in neighboring countries. More than 15,000 have crossed Syria’s borders unaccompanied, separated from everything they knew, even their parents.  

 

“For the youngest Syrian children, this crisis is all they have ever known," says UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. "For adolescents entering their formative years, violence and suffering have not only scarred their past; they are shaping their futures.”

 

Yet they show remarkable resilience — and hope. Let's honor the children of Syria and their stories. 

 

See the rest of the video series:

 

Besan’s story

 

Maya’s story

 

Saja’s story

 

Moheb’s story

 

 

Learn More