Ansam (10) performs ‘Song for Syria’ with a choir of internally displaced children
*NOTE* Video stills and an introduction to the song’s video available for download here
DUBLIN/BEIRUT/DAMASCUS, 15 March 2017 – UNICEF has this morning released ‘Song for Syria’ a powerful new song and music video performed by children affected by six years of war in Syria.
The song is a message of hope from Syria’s children to the people of the world, with a simple request to get their childhood back.
‘Song for Syria’ is sung by 10-year-old Ansam, a Syrian girl who was born blind, against a backdrop of a city devastated by conflict. The video was filmed in Syria.
The children who perform alongside Ansam are all internally displaced and participate, along with Ansam, in UNICEF psychosocial support programmes.
The song was written and composed by Zaid Dirani, Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, and world-famous pianist, who donated it to UNICEF.
The release of the song comes in the week that marks six years of war in Syria. On Monday, UNICEF confirmed 2016 was the worst year of the conflict for Syrian children with violations against them the highest on record.
Verified instances of killing, maiming and recruitment of children increased sharply last year in a drastic escalation of violence across the country:
- At least 652 children were killed – a 20 per cent increase from 2015 – making 2016 the worst year for Syria’s children since the formal verification of child casualties began in 2014.
- 255 children were killed in or near a school.
- More than 850 children were recruited to fight in the conflict, more than double the number recruited in 2015. Children are being used and recruited to fight directly on the frontlines and are increasingly taking part in combat roles, including in extreme cases as executioners, suicide bombers or prison guards.
- There were at least 338 attacks against hospitals and medical personnel.
The lyrics of ‘Heartbeat, a song for Syria’ lyrics are reproduced here:
Amid destruction and fire, our wound is deep
We want to say it loud, but our voice is weak
We may be children, but our cry comes from the heart
We want to erase fear and be the change
We want to say it loud: everything is possible
Someone listen, someone hear
We want our childhood back
Together we can hope
We will be stronger and grow
With pain, fear and tears we write this song
Our hearts beat back to life
Our faces will glow and light this long darkness
Dreams we built together will all come true
We want to say it loud: everything is possible
Someone listen, someone hear
We want our childhood back
Together we can hope
We will be stronger and grow
With pain, fear and tears we write this song
Our hearts are beating again
Our smiles are everywhere
Our hearts are beating again
Together we can hope
We will be stronger and grow
With pain, fear and tears we write this song
Our hearts beat back to life
back to life
The most vulnerable Syrian children are the 2.8 million caught in hard-to-reach areas, including 280,000 children living under siege who are almost completely cut off from humanitarian aid.
After six years of war, nearly six million children now depend on humanitarian assistance, a twelve-fold increase from 2012. Millions of children have been displaced, some up to seven times. Over 2.3 million children are now living as refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.
On behalf of the children of Syria, UNICEF is appealing to all parties to the conflict, those who have influence over them, the international community and anyone who cares about children for:
- An immediate political solution to end the conflict in Syria;
- An end to all grave violations against children including killing, maiming and recruitment, and attacks on schools and hospitals;
- The lifting of all sieges and unconditional and sustained access to all children in need, wherever they are in Syria;
- Providing refugee host governments and communities with sustainable support for vulnerable children, regardless of their status, and
- Continued financial support for UNICEF’s lifesaving assistance to Syrian children.
UNICEF is seeking just over US$1 billion to help Syrian children and families seeking refuge from the war in neighbouring countries, and US$354 million to provide life-saving assistance to half the population of Syria.
ENDS
*Notes to Editors*
‘Heartbeat – a song for Syria’ is now available for immediate publication.
UNICEF’s publication Hitting Rock Bottom, along with broadcast quality b-roll, videos from children in Syria, and photos is available here
To donate to the children of Syria, please visit our website.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. UNICEF has been operating for 70 years.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Youtube or visit UNICEF Ireland’s website
For more information, please contact:
Aedín Donnelly, Communications and Media Manager for UNICEF Ireland | aedin@unicef.ie | Tel: +353 1 809 0281 | Mob: +353 85 1395272
