Save the Children Jordan urges leaders, donors to meet pledges of Brussels II conference

AMMAN — The $4.4 billion commitments made last week at the Second Brussels conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” fall short of what was anticipated, according to a statement from Save the Children Jordan. 

Almost three million Syrian children — both inside and outside of the country — remain out of school, said the statement.

Rania Malki, CEO of Save the Children Jordan, urged leaders and donors to meet the pledges made at this conference and previous events. Malki spoke on behalf of the No Lost Generation initiative and presented the latest NLG report on education, alongside UNICEF’s MENA director, Geert Cappelaere, during a high level lunch at the Brussels Conference.

Save the Children recreated a bombed-out classroom in Brussels to remind the conference participants of the millions of Syrian children out of school. It also reflected the horrors facing children in Syria on a daily basis. At the premises, two Syrian children were seated at school desks, along with a blackboard behind saying: One in every three Syrian children is not in school. An empty desk in the classroom symbolised a whole generation of Syrian children who are currently missing out on their education.

Malki stressed that Save the Children is addressing through this stunt the issue of children inside Syria whose schools have been destroyed or are under threat because of the ongoing conflict: “We are talking about Syrian refugee children in neighbouring countries who are often unable to go to school or access quality education,” said Malki.

Lack of legal protection for millions of Syrians, inside and outside the country, continues to undermine commitments on aid, education and job creation, the statement said. “Although efforts and pledges were made by the international community to provide a decent level of education, serious barriers to education remain”.

These obstacles, the organisation said,  include lack of safety and protection due to schools coming under attack or being used by military forces and armed groups in Syria. For refugee children, barriers include lack of places, poor quality education, concerns about bullying and costs.

 “Save the Children is asking donors at the second Brussels Syria Conference to prioritise education for Syrian children,” said Malki, adding, “Donors and world leaders must do more to protect school children in Syria and help those in neighbouring countries to get an education.”  

Save the Children Jordan provides its services to approximately 590,000 children and their families in Jordan on a yearly basis. It also helps young people and women to secure a source of income that helps them to provide adequate living conditions for their children.