***This is a sponsored post. A portion of its earnings has been donated to the Syria Crisis Appeal. As always, all opinions are solely mine.***
Terror has invaded the neighbourhood. The threats and danger of civil war drive you and your family out of your home, everything you’re familiar with.
Your parents desperately instruct you to walk. To keep on walking, through the puddles, in the rain, seeking refuge. Leaving in haste, all you carry are the light, summer clothes you’re wearing, completely unprepared for the cold nights and the upcoming winter months.
You are all but 7 years of age.
Syria is on all the news channels; the hot topic on all streams of media.
What many fail to realise, the conflict in Syria is in its third year, seeing more than 100,000 deaths. More than 3 million Syrians have left their homes, and approximately 1.6 million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries such as Jordan. The numbers continue to rise.
I had to look away from the television screen when the 21 August incident was first reported because the deeply disturbing images were too much to bear. People – both adults and young children – suffering and dying from what appear to be chemical attacks. I say “appear” because despite the blatant evidence, it needs confirmation and that won’t happen, at the very least, in several weeks.
The US reported the death toll at 1,429, including 426 children.
The world waits to see what the US government will do. Does it fight back the Assad regime and potentially risk the involvement in yet another Middle East war? Or does it stand back and while the rest of the world witnesses continued terror and merciless harm to innocent civilians, especially children.
In the meanwhile, our politicians argue senselessly with indignation over their meaningless, heartless policies of how Australia should “solve the boat people” issue.
It’s simple.
When your life is at risk, you run. You don’t care where because anywhere else in the world is safer than the horror and trauma you’ve just experienced in your own country.
But young children don’t understand why they have to run. All they know is that their entire world – in all its stability and innocence – has been robbed. Homeless, cold and terrified.
Prior to the 21 August attacks, UNICEF claimed 1.15 million children had been affected by conflict and violence in Syria. Of registered refugees outside of Syria, 233,00 being children. No doubt, these figures have since risen dramatically.
As the harsh winter months approach in Syria, UNICEF are supporting the ongoing provision of winter supplies, health care and child support.
If you would like to help these children in desperate need, please donate to the UNICEF Australia Syria Crisis Appeal.
**All images sourced from UNICEF Australia website**
Joining the lovely Essentially Jess and her fabulous IBOT team
Bec @ The Plumbette says
How blessed are we to live in Australia? I am so grateful to live here and that my children don’t have to face the atrocities other children do living in Syria and the surrounding Middle East. Thanks Grace for writing this post and bringing awareness to an issue that we hear about on the news but then busy ourselves with our day to day duties.
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Lydia C. Lee says
Great post (that tent photo is very disturbing).
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Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
I don’t think we can even begin to imagine what these people are living through, the images are so surreal. I think mothers are the same the world over, and the mums that live through this, struggle every second of the day to keep their children safe.
I’m watching it on TV right now Grace, and there doesn’t seem to be any solution close. Thank you for providing the UNICEF links. xx
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Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
Oh wow. Thanks for the wake up call Grace.
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
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Sam Stone says
It is such a gut wrenching situation. Those poor civilians forced to leave their homes, their country. Those poor children who don’t understand and are probably petrified. It really makes my heart bleed.
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Tegan says
It really puts everything in perspective doesn’t it. My partner was a staunch *stop the boats* believer until I showed him some footage, and facts (that is not hyped up figures for political agenda) and he was shocked. He had no idea of the magnitude of it and the fact that we are pretty small fish in the taking in asylum seekers stakes. The one thought that keeps coming back to me is that these are someones sons, daughters, father, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandparents. They aren’t figures to be manipulated for political gain, they are real people.
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Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions says
I can’t imagine how terrifying it would be for those poor, poor people, especially the children. We are so lucky to live in a country where the worst thing out government can do to us is deny all people the right to marry. Bth parties policies on asylum seekers though? Don’t get me started, it makes me sick to my stomach how heartless they all are.
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Aroha @ Colours of Sunset says
I don’t know how governments world wide stand by and let this happen. HOW? It makes me want to drive to school right now, get Nick, and never let him out of my arms. xo
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Mrs Holsby says
You know, this is one of many nations in need of help. The world is full of children without parents, and parents who’s lost children. It’s heartbreaking. It’s hard to know what to do. Talking about it, writing about it, raising awareness is so important so kudos, Mama G.
We should absolutely help them, and everyone we possibly can, because we are so lucky and we have so much.
PS Tony Abbott is a twat.
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Psych Babbler says
It’s such a horrific situation at the moment in Syria. Thanks for doing your bit to raise awareness…definitely going to try and do my bit too!
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EssentiallyJess says
It’s just terrible. I cannot believe this stuff is allowed to happen in such an enlightened age that we supposedly live in. It’s just not write.
Going to work even harder on my knitting now. Was going to donate to an orphanage, but no doubt these guys might need it more
Sarah says
Perhaps these are the people we should help. None of them would have access to the funds that get paid to the people smugglers. Send planes over and split the numbers between a few countries.
Seana - Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel says
Hello, the photos of dead children is extremely confronting – thank god for the frontline disaster relief organisations.
My gut says that the USA is NOT the world’s policeman, and should keep its snout out and let a global coalition take up the task of castigating the Syrian regime.
From the safety and security of the Sydney suburbs, this war seems so unreal… yet it is… how lucky we are here, and very grateful.
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Emily @ Have a laugh on me says
Such heartbreaking images, children walking around after being attacked. Too sad to watch but we must all be made aware of what is happening over the other side of the world.
I’m not sure I agree with the US getting involved, with being UN sanctioned, but something needs to happen. Love this cause Grace x
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Lisa Wood says
When I came across stories like Syria Crisis I am so very glad that I do not own a TV – I so could not watch it, nor could I accept it as being something that just happens.
I have no idea what the solution is to situations like this….but I do know one thing – the powers that be are NOT making it right.
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Neets says
It sickens me in the stomach to see such tragedy Grace. To think that this happens in this day and age sickens me even more. Thank you for raising awareness. x
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Becc says
When you put yourself in that position, you just cannot fathom it. I can barely get my son to eat or go to the toilet if he is tired or cold, imagine trying to get them to run, stop crying, keep on keeping on?
I don’t have any answers, but I do hope the people that are supposed to know how to handle these situations do come up with something that will help.
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Parental Parody says
Well said! Times like this I feel truly blessed to have grown up in Australia. I can’t even imagine how those kids have grown up, and the horrors they see on a daily basis.
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auto insruance quoptes says
That’s really thinking at an impressive level