Children of Syria: BBC News documentary with Lyse Doucet

The civil war in Syria is well into its fourth year and is having a devastating impact on the lives of the country’s children, with tens of thousands having been killed or wounded.

In a documentary that will air on BBC Two tonight, the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet follows the lives of six young Syrians over the course of six months.

The three boys and three girls aged between 8 and 14 share their stories, giving an insight into the impact of the war on them and helping explain how the conflict will affect their country’s future.

Millions of children live with hunger and fear, many suffering in areas under siege.

“With every trip to Syria, I began to realise that children were not just little people with heartbreaking tears or infectious smiles,” says Lyse. “They are on the frontlines, able to tell their own compelling stories about the complex and consequential wars of our time.

“Over the past six months, I and director-cameraman Robin Barnwell followed the lives of six Syrian children. Their stories sketch a political and social map of their nation and provide a troubling glimpse into its future.”

Lyse tells her story on the BBC website. The programme airs on BBC Two and BBC Two HD tonight at 9.00pm.