Rita Ora and Ewan McGregor star in video appeal for Syrian children

 
'There's no place like home': Rita Ora joins to winter appeal

A charity video featuring a host of film stars and musicians has been released to highlight the plight of children caught up in the Syria conflict.

Unicef has launched the clip, which features UK ambassador Ewan McGregor alongside actors Michael Sheen and Tom Hiddleston and musicians Rita Ora, Tinie Tempah and Emma Bunton, as part of their Syria Winter Appeal.

The video, made by Unicef UK and Appeal Films, opens with the celebrities closing their eyes, saying: "There's no place like home," followed by shots of buildings on fire and a Syrian child running round the side of a building engulfed in smoke before reaching out to the camera.

McGregor said: "My heart truly goes out to the millions of Syrian children who have lost everything: their families, friends and homes.

"Facing a third year in a freezing cold camp is no place anyone should call home, let alone a child. I worry that the world is starting to shut its eyes to the Syrian crisis."

Ora said filming the video made her think of Pristina, her home town in Kosovo.

The 23-year-old singer-songwriter and actress said: "The city has seen its fair share of trouble but thankfully that's over now. But right now, children in Syria are suffering unspeakable violence, often fleeing their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back."

Charity mission: revered stage and screen actor Michael Sheen visited Lebanon with Unicef last month
Help needed: the stars, which include former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, are calling for urgent help with the fund

Sheen travelled to Lebanon with Unicef last month. The Welsh actor said: "I met Syrian children struggling to cope in desperate circumstances. As the bitter winter closes in, they are being pushed to the edge of their physical and psychological endurance. No child should be living like this."

Anita Tiessen, deputy executive director of Unicef UK, said: "With the conflict in Syria deep into its third year, children continue to pay the heaviest price.

Charity patron: rapper Tinie Tempah

"Close to six million Syrian children are in urgent need of aid in what is the largest humanitarian operation in history. Now they face a new threat - winter is here.

"We urgently need to be able to reach every child in Syria. Unless we act now, this generation may be lost forever - with profound long-term consequences for Syria, the region and beyond."

The UK Government said it will match all public donations made to Unicef's work for Syrian children until January 31.

To donate text WARM to 70111 to give £3 or visit unicef.org.uk.

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