On the day the UNHCR have announced that the number of Syrian refugees has reached the one million mark, David Bull, UNICEF UK Executive Director said:
"The arrival of the millionth refugee across the Syrian border is a grim milestone. Of those million refugees, at least half are children; many of whom have suffered tragic loss and witnessed horrific violence. In Syria itself, a further two million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
"It is wrong that even one child in Syria or outside its borders is living in fear or without the basic help needed to survive and UNICEF is working day and night to reach children affected and provide vital help.
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"UNICEF is one of the few international humanitarian organisations working within Syria. We are providing children in Syria and refugee children in neighbouring countries with safe drinking water, essential vaccines and nutrition, education, clothing, protection and other vital support.
"However, we are desperately short of funds for this very real and immediate crisis.
"Unless an 80% funding gap is bridged, UNICEF will be forced to scale back on our life-saving interventions. For example, as of next month, we might not have enough funds to provide children and their families in Syria with clean drinking water. Without this, many thousands of children could be exposed to serious and potentially life-threatening waterborne diseases.
"We need donations urgently, and we need them now. As little as £5 could provide water for a week for a family in Syria."
