Falak (12) is one of more than 1.9 million children who have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict in Syria.

When the fighting reached their street, Falak’s family attempted to flee Syria by car. A sniper fatally shot her father and a tank then fired at the car, killing her mother, a brother and her cousins’ father.

Falak now lives with her three surviving younger siblings, her aunt Siham and two cousins at a house in Amman, Jordan. They share the home with dozens of other child refugees from Syria.

Falak looks after her younger brother and sisters. “When my brothers and sisters cry, I try to make them feel better,” Falak said. “I tell them, ‘Don’t cry. Mum didn’t die. She is watching us from heaven.’ I don’t cry in front of them. I cry when I go to sleep.”

Children have borne the brunt of indiscriminate violence and have witnessed unspeakable abuse during the conflict in Syria. Millions have lost loved ones, schools and homes. Falak said, “It’s safe here. My siblings and I need to get an education because we’ve missed a lot. I would love to go to school here.”