***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