Syrian refugee children suffer psychological disorders

World
Europe

02:02

The children of Syrian refugees in Jordan are showing the effects of being robbed of peace and stability during their formative years.

Many Syrian children fled to Jordan with their parents to escape the violence at home. More than half of Syrian refugees in Jordan are below 18. The war in their country has left them with what experts suspect are psychological disorders. Many don't go to school, and those who do exhibit abnormal behavior.

"Syrian students who've lived through the war, they've change a lot. They are different from other kids," Abu Sultan, a manager of a school for Syrian refugees said. "Many Syrian students have psychological problems. I often see them fight with each other. Most of these students don't care about their studies. Their families don't care either."

A Syrian child sits in a basket on a bicycle at the main market during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at the Al-Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq, Jordan on June 1, 2017. /VCG Photo

Unlike children in other parts of the world, Syrian youngsters have been asked to live through plenty of adversity. Getting an education is no longer a priority. Data shows nearly half of Syrian children work more than 44 hours per week, with some in harsh conditions.

"Families and children are increasingly struggle to just survive, because the poor protection environment is now becoming very hard," said Miraj Pradhan, head of Communication, UNICEF in Jordan.

Although there are some schools provided for Syrian refugees, the schools in refugee camps operate in shifts. Girls study in the morning, and boys study in the afternoon. At schools outside the camp, mornings are for locals, and afternoons and evenings are for refugees.

Syrian boys read the Koran inside the Quran Memorization Center during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at the Al-Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq, Jordan on June 1, 2017. /VCG Photo

Most of the teachers in the schools are Syrian refugees. They volunteer to educate Syrian children. They used to be engineers, artists, or professors.

"I know how powerful learning is," Sameer Al Ajami, a volunteer teacher from Syria said. "I love my country and the people. That's why I am here."

There are six million Syrian refugee children and about a third of them live in places with no access to proper care. As the number continues to increase, the future of these children grows more uncertain.