Embed

Growing up with War: Children of Syria

The tragedy of kids who've never known peace.

In almost six years of war in Syria, millions of civilians have been killed or wounded.  Many have lost their homes and loved ones but the children are the most vulnerable victims of all, it’s estimated that over 8 million have been affected.  

RT Doc’s Maria Finoshina has reported on the developing conflict in Syria since it began. Now she returns to the devastated cities of Aleppo and Homs to meet just a few of the kids who’ve grown up with the horror of war.

Related: Shocking stories of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Many of the children have never known a time of peace. Most are deprived of education and even a place of safety. Traumatized by what they’ve lived through, they receive no counselling and spend their childhoods simply trying to survive: dodging bombs and snipers’ bullets, constantly on the move to escape hostilities, while earning to support their families.

Related: Syrian veterans seeing past their injuries to a better life

The harrowing stories include Ahmad, who survived being shot in the head by a sniper but was left partially paralyzed. For him, the simplest of routine tasks are now a struggle but he still goes to school every day. Leith watched as five of his family members, including his parents, were killed. Moayed’s house was razed to the ground and now, every member of his big family has become a refugee in their own country. They squat in a partially destroyed building, with no water or electricity.

Millions more of Syria’s children have similar stories to tell: a whole generation is growing up with war and as the bloodshed continues, their futures remain precarious and uncertain.

Subscribe to get stories the mainstream media ignores: Subscribe RTD's Youtube

WATCH TRAILER
Please rate this film

9.20(15 users)

Published: 13 February 2017 00:00

Duration

26:47

Tags
Watch this film in Russian

don't miss

26:33
Crime and Terrorism 23 October 2015 00:00

Victims of ISIS. IS slaves share their story

26:33
Military and War 10 July 2017 00:00

War as a Working Place. Syrian reporters risk death to bring news from the frontlines

26:33
Military and War 18 January 2017 00:00

Unbroken in Syria. Syrian veterans seeing past their injuries to a better life

26:33
Crime and Terrorism 08 February 2019 00:30

Where Childhood Died. Former Syrian child soldiers and their emotional scars

26:33
Society 09 March 2015 00:00

Generation Standstill. Shocking Stories of Syrian Refugees

26:33
Human Rights 20 January 2016 00:00

No Laughing Matter. When refugees find their smiles again...

26:33
Military and War 18 April 2016 00:00

I’m Sameer from Damascus. Life in Syria’s capital through the lens of a local cameraman

26:33
Military and War 16 December 2022 12:00

My Friend From War. Volleyball helps soldier live through trauma

26:33
Society 28 February 2018 00:00

Sex, Drugs & Refugees. Syrian teenagers in Athens resort to prostitution to survive

26:33
Crime and Terrorism 26 May 2021 17:00

Syria. The Story of One Tragedy . Leith - a boy whose entire family was killed before his eyes

26:33
Personalities 16 October 2018 00:31

Eternal . In memory of Khaled Alkhateb, RT war reporter

26:33
Arts and Culture 15 February 2019 00:30

Syrian Tango. Art and Dance reviving Syria's soul

26:33
Military and War 19 September 2020 20:00

Sniper in the sand. A story of a German sniper who joined Kurdish YPG in Syria

26:33
Crime and Terrorism 08 September 2023 12:00

Lost Souls. Terrorists exploit religion to poach new recruits

26:33
Politics 29 March 2012 00:00

Spring forever

26:33
Religion 19 August 2013 00:00

The Way of The Cross. Egypt’s Coptic Christians under pressure after the Arab Spring

26:33
Personalities 24 June 2019 00:42

Fisher of Men. Tunisian man gives hundreds of unknown migrants a decent burial

26:33
Investigation 25 March 2020 13:20

Desperate Straits. Corrupt reality of the refugee crisis in Italy

26:33
Society 16 May 2016 00:00

Zabbaleen: Trash Town. A whole community in Egypt that lives on rubbish

26:33
Military and War 31 August 2020 20:00

Orphaned by ISIS. After ISIS: Bringing the children home

VIEWER’S CHOICE: 1,000,000 VIEWS AND MORE

VIEW ALL