Search Here

The United Nations (UN) says another $500-million fund is required for the education programs for Syrian children. This is in addition to the $250 million (£173 million) funding support UN received from donors. The UN requires additional funds to educate over a million Syrian refugee children. The funds requirement is on urgency basis as it's needed for education expenditure this year.

UN requires another round of $500 million (£346 million) for funding education programs for Syrian children in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Gordon Brown, the former UK Prime Minister and UN envoy for global education, has announced the requirement of additional funds. Brown is committed to raise the funds in next month.

According to a report by Independent, the number of child marriages among Syrian children is alarmingly increasing. Brown said that one in three boys and girls became child laborers.

In a statement from UN, Brown said: "Death voyages to Europe will soar this year as long as Syria's six million displaced children and two million refugee children are exploited and denied any opportunity within the region."

Lebanon has introduced two shifts for classes in schools. This has been running successfully for Syrian children education. These two-shift classes are benefiting over 200,000 refugee children. Lebanese children go to schools in morning, while refugee youngsters attend classes afternoon and evenings.

The organization Girls Not Brides has expressed its concerns over the increasing rate of child marriages among Syrian children from 12 percent to 26 percent. Brown has pledged to raise the required money at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and at an international pledging conference for Syria in London, which is scheduled on 4 February, among other venues, as reported by ABC NEWS.

Brown further added: "And by next year every single child refugee would be offered a place in school whether they are in Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey."

Brown has set a target of doubling the number of Syrian refugee children from 200,000 now in Turkey. About 130,000 Syrian children are attending classes in Jordan and this will be over 200,000 in next few months and will touch one million in 2016, as per the target of Brown, according to AP.

Expressing concerns over the increasing rate of child marriage rate and child laborers among Syrian children, Brown said: "It's urgent that we provide them education and avoid this exploitation and give these children hope for the future." Brown spoke at a news conference by audio link from Europe.