STEP UK: Syrian refugee support and child protection in Iraq
Largest Refugee Crisis of our Time
2021 is the 11th year of the Syrian refugee crisis. 6.8 million refugees have fled the country, and families in the camp in Iraq are still unable to return home.
Child Protection
Arbat refugee camp is currently home to over 9600 Syrian refugees; more than 4500 are minors, aged 0-17 years. Many of these children grew up in a refugee camp - displacement is the only reality they have experienced, others witnessed violence and experienced trauma and loss. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the trauma, impacting the refugee community badly. During a protracted or post-emergency situation, child protection is a special concern, due to an increased risk of children of being injured, trafficked, physically and/or sexually abused, or exploited in other ways - including child labour and early marriage.
Since 2013, STEP has provided child protection services in partnership with the refugee community; employing refugees who live within the camp as staff members. STEP’s Child Protection Unit acts as a vital safety net, supporting the most vulnerable or intervening when children are separated or unaccompanied.
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Trauma Support
Parents were concerned about their children, who had become withdrawn and isolated, struggling to deal with their traumatic experiences. However, regular attendance at the ‘Child-friendly Spaces’ enabled them to process trauma and grief, learn to socialize and interact with others again in a safe environment, and helped them to recover a sense of normality and an ability to cope with life.
“Before, my son just stayed in and watched TV, he wasn’t talking to anyone. Now he has different activities and interests - playing outside, colouring, learning the alphabet…”
Over 3500 different children were supported in the last 5 years through 175,000 visits to participate in the services and activities provided.
Project Support
The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation supports the project “Providing psychosocial support and child protection services to separated/unaccompanied and vulnerable Syrian refugee children in Iraq” with CHF 100‘000 in 2019 and CHF 245‘000, for the period April 2021 – December 2023.
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For more information: https://step-uk.org/uk/projects/arc.php
