Lost and Alone- Factsheet

This report presents the findings from a unique piece of research conducted by WVSR in Northwest Syria (NWS) and Southern Türkiye, focusing on the February 2023 earthquakes' impact on unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) who were separated from their families during the disasters. It incorporates the diverse perspectives of caregivers, community members, and crucially, Syrian UASC in some of the areas most affected by the earthquakes. Highlighting the critical role of community-based alternative care systems, the report points out severe gaps in existing services for children without parental care and calls for increased prioritization of Syrian UASC in humanitarian responses to the Syrian conflict. Furthermore, it notes the absence of specific detail on the gender, disability, or refugee status of UASC in collected data, making these children largely invisible both as a group and in their diversity.