Overview

• A year after a massive earthquake struck Syria and Turkey, killing over 59,000, orphaned children are adjusting to life with extended family or in foster homes.
• Baby Aya, the sole survivor of her immediate family, symbolizes hope amidst tragedy, living with her aunt's family after being rescued still attached to her deceased mother.
• UNICEF reports 542 children were found 'unaccompanied and separated' post-quake, with efforts to reunite them with family or provide alternative care ongoing.
• Children like Yasmine Shahoud and Hanaa Shreif share stories of survival and recovery, despite the physical and emotional scars left by the earthquake.
• Community efforts focus on providing long-term guardianship rather than legal adoption, with many children finding new homes with vetted foster families.