Terre des hommes - News

Balkans: Refugee children at risk

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:14:06 +0100

“473 refugees, including 170 children, from Syria and Iraq have been sitting on the Macedonia – Serbia border for more than a week. It is a critical situation because all tents are wet and muddy as a result of rainy days” says Marija, Terre des hommes (Tdh) emergency coordinator in Macedonia.

Another thousand people are stranded in the Tabanovce transit center in Serbia. The facilities which were never adapted for people in the first place are now overcrowded. There are not enough beds, showers nor toilets. Sanitary conditions are deteriorating.

Soap, towels and shampoos are part of essential hygiene items that refugees are missing since they have been stopped at the border in Adasevci, Serbia. “Among the 150 children we help, 60 of them are under three years old,” reports Danjiela, Tdh emergency coordinator in Serbia. “Children and their mothers have nothing to change. We have to buy more towels, underwear and warm clothing in the next coming days.”

The situation of refugees have drastically changed since European countries decided to close their borders. It created a bottleneck and resulted in thousands of migrants stopped from being able to move forward to their next destination.

With the help of our local partners La Strada in Macedonia and Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre in Serbia, we continue our efforts in response to the recent restrictions from European migration policies. “Refugees are upset, worried and ask for information and support,” says Danjiela.

The local teams work twelve hours straight to support the numerous refugee families, in particular the young children and their mothers. “One young man even tried to hurt himself. They seem desperate and in dire need of psychological help.”

Last week marked the very sad anniversary of five years of conflict in Syria. Five years for displaced and refugee children living without a home, without a school, without toys. With the support from the UEFA Foundation for children and Swiss Solidarity, Tdh and its partners are able to organise more and more activities to protect the youngest and most-in-need refugee children.

Terre des hommes celebrates World Water Day

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 05:00:00 +0100

At the occasion of World Water Day, we are happy to share with you examples of activities happening today in some of our countries of intervention!

Terre des hommes in Bangladesh

62% of households don’t have access to safe drinking water in Bangladesh.

In northern Bangladesh, over 40,000 children, women and men celebrate World Water Day. Theatre events in schools, practical hygiene demonstration in marketplaces, and over a thousand household visits by community volunteers will take place today in four municipalities of Kurigram District.

Our teams work with local communities to implement sanitation systems and to improve access to drinking water and hygienic toilet facilities. We also train communities in hygienic practices to prevent the spread of disease.

Terre des hommes in Palestine

Over 90% of the water available to the population in Gaza is not fit to drink.

Boys and girls in Palestine celebrate the release of a video game called “Play with Nazeef“ (in Arabic). Children play on tablets in schools throughout Gaza. Tdh and local software developers created Nazeef to reinforce learning about adequate water, sanitation and hygiene in schools.

Following the destruction of sanitary facilities due to the last conflict in Gaza, Tdh has built reservoirs capable of distributing 6,000 litres of water daily. We have also repaired sanitary facilities in 29 primary schools in Gaza and reached more than 17,000 children with hygiene promotion activities.

Terre des hommes in Nepal

One out of 10 people uses unprotected sources of drinking water.*

Community health volunteers, groups of mothers and schools celebrate World Water Day in Nepal with public demonstrations in markets, song competitions, street theatre and radio messages – all focusing on the importance of water as means of health, work and change.

Construction of community and school water supply systems changed Nepalese women and children daily lives in the areas of Tdh’s intervention. Mothers don’t have to walk exhausting hours anymore to fetch drinking water and children can satisfy their thirst while attending school. Adolescent girls in particular can now attend school during menstruation thanks to water in toilets.

*Source: Unicef 2014

"I go home five times a day to see my children." Ali, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:41:57 +0100

In Syria, Ali witnessed friends and family being killed by bombs. “I was terrified,” he says. He decided to leave the conflict zone, walking for hours with his children until they crossed the Lebanese border.

In Lebanon, Ali works as a builder to feed his children and pay rent on the shelter the family lives in. “It’s difficult because my refugee status means I’m not allowed to work,” he explains. He has already been arrested once by police. However, after one of Tdh’s mediators intervened, he was released. He is afraid of being arrested again but must work to make ends meet for his children, who are his entire life. “I risk getting caught, but I go home five times a day to see my children.”

When Ali goes to work, his children stay home alone and look out for each other. Sometimes they play with other children at the shelter.

Tdh supports Ali and his two children. Our team in Lebanon found them the collective shelter to live in. Social workers also check on Ali’s children and make sure they are safe.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the Syrian conflict. For five years, millions of children have had their homes, schools and toys destroyed.

Help us protect these children. Donate now.

Syrian crisis: How we make a difference

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 10:38:00 +0100

In Jordan, we met a mother and her 11 children. After fleeing the Syrian conflict, they spent two months in a refugee camp where conditions were so bad they left. The mother said, “We tried to rent a house, but the owner made us leave, because he said we made too much noise.” Luckily, the family managed to find an apartment, where they now live. “Life isn’t easy, but together we try and make it work. I just want one thing: a different life for my children. But what can we do?”

Mohamed, one of the boys, is 8 years old. To help feed his family, he collects metal waste in the streets. “Sometimes adults steal what I pick up. But I can’t do anything about it, I’m too little,” he says. For ten kilogrammes of metal, he is paid around one Jordanian dollar (approximately two American dollars). “It’s not easy, but it’s the only way to earn money.” His sister Bochar is 13 and works on a farm. She collects fruit for 12 hours a day, from 5am to 5pm. She earns less than ten dollars a day.

Bochar has gained in confidence since she began attending the centre managed by Terre des hommes. “I’ve learned how to read and write,” she says. According to her mother, all the children have shown signs of improvement: “I’ve noticed a real difference since my children started taking part in Tdh’s activities. I’d like to thank the entire team for the assistance they provide.” Three weeks ago, the children’s father managed to cross the border. Hopefully, the family will all be together again soon.

Help us support children in need. You can make a difference by making a donation. A heartfelt thank you.

Jordan: "My children have to work"

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 19:54:02 +0100

This mother (right on the photo) is 35. At present she is living in Jordan with her four children aged 4 to 8. Two years ago, the family had to flee the bombing in Syria. Once over the frontier, they were placed in a refugee camp. “Life in the camp was really too difficult for my kids and me. We just had to leave.” The family no longer gets any help from international organizations.

“At the moment we’re living in a rented house – but it’s in a dreadful state. There are problems with damp and sanitation. At night we hear rats." Owing to her refugee status, this mother of four has no right to look for work. She cannot buy food for her children nor pay the rent. From time to time she gets a cleaning job. One of the children works in a shop where he sells jerry cans of water. “My children have to work to earn the absolute minimum for our needs. As Syrians, they can’t go to school or to the doctor.”

The youngsters go to the centre run by Terre des hommes in Jordan. “I’m so grateful, as this gives them a safe place to be. They now have a certain routine that makes it possible for them to become steadier. They are also meeting other kids. One of my sons had psychological issues caused by what he underwent in Syria. The Tdh team were able to help and support him. Since then he feels much better and there are positive changes in his attitude.”

Help us support children in need. You can make a difference by making a donation. A heartfelt thank you.